Erie County has almost 100 historical markers. You can find maps for most of these on Remarkable Ohio Just click on Erie County for the list of markers. Another great resource is The Historical Marker Database. volunteer driven it includes easy to follow directions to locations and a history of sponsorship.
These markers are scattered throughout Erie County—along roads and streets, in front of buildings, in parks and parking lots, along trails. Each marker highlights something significant in the story of Erie County—a special event, a unique structure, the birthplace of a notable person. The list is long and varied. Taken together, they represent much of the significant history of the county.
Looking for a particular marker? Click on the city to jump around in the list.
Sandusky & Perkins Township see the list below
Bay View, Castalia and Margaretta Township
Huron City & Huron Township
Oxford Township
Vermilion, Vermilion Twp. & Brownhelm
Village of Milan, Milan Twp & Avery
Birmingham
Kelleys Island
City of Sandusky Historical Markers
OLD SANDUSKY POST OFFICE
301 W. Washington St., Sandusky OH READ MORE
CEDAR POINT – THE QUEEN OF AMERICAN WATERING PLACES
1 Cedar Point Dr. READ MORE
ELEUTHEROS COOKE – COOKE-DORN HOUSE
1415 Columbus Rd., Sandusky OH READ MORE
THE CONCRETION
Washington Park between Columbus Ave. and Wayne St., near the Gazebo. READ MORE
INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE OHIO HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
This marker is inside Cedar Point and you may need to apply ahead for permission to enter without parking fee. READ MORE
HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH
428 Tiffin Ave., Sandusky OH
Holy Angels Catholic Church is the mother church of Sandusky. Reverend Joseph P. Machebeuf, a French Missionary, began ministering to Catholics in the Sandusky area in late 1839. Soon after, William H. Mills offered five lots, $530, and the materials needed to build a church. Father Machebeuf laid the cornerstone on October 13, 1841, and services were held in 1842. By Christmas of 1845, the building was complete, the steeple added, and the bell installed. The congregation was mostly Irish emigrants. In 1855, as more Germans settled nearby, they built St. Mary’s Mother of Sorrows Church. The city’s expansion prompted the building of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in 1871. Holy Angels became a mission church of Sts. Peter and Paul until 1875 when Holy Angels was assigned its own pastor and reopened.
GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL
1111 Hayes Ave., Street, Sandusky OH (in front of Firelands Hospital)
Good Samaritan Hospital was formed for the purpose of maintaining and operating an institution for the sick and injured. Under the direction of Rev. William W. Farr and Mr. C.C. Keech, the cornerstone was laid June 27, 1976. The hospital was established to be universal in its activities and benefactors and not to be under the control of any religious body or civic organization.
CHOLERA CEMETERY – IN HONOR OF THE DOCTORS
Corner of Harrison & Jefferson Sts.
This is a 2-sided marker. Learn more about this historic site.
FORT SANDUSKY
Located at the intersection of Routes 2 and 6 with Route 99 in the community of Venice, which is now a part of Sandusky (near Margaritaville).
This marker was damaged and is currently being cast with updated language. Erected by the British near this junction in 1761; destroyed during Pontiac’s Conspiracy of 1763. The fort was strategically located near Indian towns and trading posts on the Great Indian trail between Detroit and Pittsburgh. READ MORE
VILLAGE OF VENICE 1816-1963
Located at the intersection of Routes 2 and 6 with Route 99 in the community of Venice, which is now a part of Sandusky. READ MORE
FROHMAN BIRTHPLACE
Located on Poplar St, near the intersection of Lawrence and W Jefferson Sts. Sandusky OH
Charles, Daniel and Gustave Frohman. Born at this site in the 1850s. Moved to New York City in 1864. Became famous theatrical producers and managers. The Frohman Birthplace marker is not in its original location. The Frohman children mentioned on this marker actually were born in the house at 507 Lawrence Street, and this marker was originally placed in the front yard of the house in 1971. When the home was sold sometime after this marker was installed, the new owners wanted it removed from their yard and it was moved to its current location.
KNUTE ROCKNE WEDDING
510 Columbus Ave., Sandusky OH
READ MORE about how he met and married his wife. The Knute Rockne Wedding Historical Marker is featured on the Washington Park Historic Walking Tour. Learn more about this historic church.
SANDUSKY’S FIRST CONGREGATION – 1818
214 E Jefferson St., Sandusky OH
Learn more about this historic site.
The Methodist Episcopal Church pioneered organized religion in Perkins Township in 1811, then in Sandusky when the Rev. Alfred Brunson preached the city’s first sermon in January, 1818. In 1829 the Methodists built Sandusky’s first church, on West Square, and had later churches on the present sites of the Court House and Post Office. This building was begun in 1922, the sanctuary completed in 1958. The Perkins and Sandusky congregations united in 1930. This marker was refurbished by the Church in 2024. The Trinity United Methodist Church is featured on the Washington Park Historic Walking Tour.
(ORIGIN OF) THE FIRELANDS
1111 Hayes Ave., Sandusky OH – Located in front of Firelands Hospital
READ MORE
CABLE PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT
Located on Wayne St. near Finch on the center median.
Erie County Fairgrounds — 1865-1899.
Planned Residential Area developed 1905-1938 by Laurence Cable and sons, Fran and Edward. Erected 1989 by the Erie County Historical Society and Cable Park Neighbors. Read about the Cable family and Cable Park in this Sandusky Library Blog post
ERIE COUNTY COURTHOUSE/JURY OF ERIE COUNTY WOMEN
323 Columbus Ave., Sandusky OH
READ MORE
THE FOLLETT HOUSE & ORAN & ELIZA FOLLETT
404 Wayne Street
READ MORE
BIRTHPLACE OF JAY COOKE
Corner of Market St. & Columbus Ave., Sandusky OH
Jay Cooke was born on this site August 10, 1821. Financier and promoter of The Northern Pacific Railroad, he sold bonds to finance the Union during the Civil War 1861-1865. This plaque was mounted on the wall of the Cooke Building; however, during a remodeling project, it was discovered that there were critical problems with the structural integrity of the building. It was demolished and a new, similar building built in its place. This plaque was removed and has not been reinstalled . Learn more about Jay Cooke. The history of this building is featured on the Downtown Sandusky Historic Walking Tour
FIRST CEMETERY IN SANDUSKY
No longer viewable. Site of Sandusky’s First Cemetery 1816-1830
The history of this cemetery can be found here: READ MORE
HINDE & DAUCH PAPER COMPANY & THE PAPER DISTRICT
300 W. Shoreline Dr., Sandusky OH
READ MORE
ERIE COUNTY
Located in Washington Park, downtown Sandusky OH
READ MORE
KILBOURNE PLAT
Located in Washington Park near Wayne Street
READ MORE
OHIO’S FIRST RAILROAD
Corner of E Water St & Meigs St.
READ MORE
JOHNSON’S ISLAND
300 W. Shoreline Dr., Sandusky OH
READ MORE
EARLY AVIATION
Located near the corner of E Water St. and Meigs St.
Weldon B. Cooke, Thomas W. Benoist, Reinhardt N. Ausmus
experimented in early aviation from this site 1912-1917
View some great photos and read about aviation in Sandusky as well as these men on the Sandusky Library History Blog: Weldon B. Cooke, Thomas W. Benoist, & Reinhardt N. Ausmus
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD/ABOLITION BOATS PROVIDE AN ESCAPE TO FREEDOM IN ERIE COUNTY
Location: Shoreline Park, near 411 East Shoreline Drive, Sandusky OH
READ MORE
SHORELINE PARK is now the Leonard J. Thom Shoreline Park
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Location: near 200 Shoreline Drive, Sandusky OH
READ MORE
SHORELINE PARK
411 East Shoreline Dr., Sandusky OH
Piers were in existence here as early as 1846. Later, three long piers were built by the Baltimore and Ohio Rilway for commercial use. Iron ore, grain, lumber, and crushed stone and packaged freight were shipped from this point. The B&O Railway also had a roundhouse here. Ferry boats and barges wintered at these piers. The piers were last used in 1973.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
315 Wayne St., Sandusky OH
Grace Church is the oldest church in Sandusky with part of the original building incorporated into the present church. The 18-inch-thick exterior walls rise from the bedrock limestone, that underlies most of Sandusky. READ MORE
CITY OF SANDUSKY
Located in Washington Park on the grounds of the Erie County Courthouse near E. Washington St.
In 1816, Zalmon Wildman, a citizen of Connecticut, platted “Sandusky City” in Portland Township on the south shore of Sandusky Bay on the site formerly occupied by the Indian chief, Ogontz….. Read more about this historic marker. The City of Sandusky Historic Marker is featured on the Washington Park Historic Walking Tour. This marker was refurbished in 2024 through the cooperative effort of the Erie County Historical Society and the City of Sandusky.
SANDUSKY SHIPYARDS
Located near E Water St. & Meigs St.
One of Sandusky Shipyard Sites – Sail and Steamboats were built 1864-1933
Among the builders were: Moss Brothers & Merry, George Fordham, John Monk, Joseph Pouliot and Lake Erie Drydock Co.
THE MASONIC TEMPLE
304 Wayne St.
On December 20, 1886 a joint communication from Science Lodge 50 and Perseverance #329 suggested that a Masonic Home be built in Sandusky. The construction started in 1888 and the cornerstone was laid on June 24, 1889. READ MORE about the Masons and this historic building. This building is on our Washington Park Walking Tour.
THE EARLY BIRDS OF AVIATION – This marker is located on West Washington Street in Washington Park, just west of the Boy with the Boot. It is under the trees, and behind the bench. Dedicated in memory of those early aviation pioneers “The Early Birds” 1910-1917. READ MORE
BICENTENNIAL ROSE GARDEN
Gone but not forgotten (original plaque in storage) Formerly located at Sycamore Line and Cleveland Road
Sandusky Jaycees Bicentennial Rose Garden, donated to our city July 2, 1976 READ MORE
THE PIPE CREEK BRIDGE
Located on Columbus Ave. just south of King Street
The previous bridge which carried Columbus Avenue over Pipe Creek was a two-span, filled, spandrel, segmental stone arch. Sandusky firm J. Py & Crackstetter was the lowest bidder at 29 cents per cubic foot of stone. Erie County awarded the construction contract on March 28, 1887. The total cost to build the bridge was $7,199.19.
In 1886 the Ohio legislature authorized the creation of the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home (now the Ohio Veterans Home) for veterans of the Civil War. A commission appointed by Governor J.B. Foraker and chaired by I.F. Mack of Sandusky chose the present site in Perkins Township one mile south of Sandusky, to be the location of the home. Construction began in 1887 and the first veterans were admitted for residence in November 1888.
The Pipe Creek Bridge was one of a series of projects to improve the roadway connections from Sandusky to the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home. In addition to the bridge, Erie County also awarded contracts to widen and macadamize Columbus Avenue and Milan Road from Perkins Avenue to the Home, as well as construct a stone arch bridge on Milan Road over Pipe Creek (demolished in 1970).
Stone arches have been constructed since pre-Roman times and were preferred where strength and longevity were important. While wrought iron truss bridges were becoming common, this bridge’s short span – 40 feet – and exceptional width – 99 feet – made trusses impractical. Steel bridges were still in their infancy, concrete would not be widely used until the early 20th century, and Erie County possessed many sources of good quality stone. The Pipe Creek Bridge thus represented the use of proven materials to build a durable bridge with practices that had been known for millennia. An 1894 stone arch bridge on Tiffin Avenue over Mills Creek in Sandusky and still in use represents similar construction principles. READ MORE
OHIO VETERANS HOME3416 Columbus Rd., Sandusky OH
There actually are two Ohio historic markers for the Ohio Veterans Home. One is located directly on Milan Road and the other is in front of the I.F. Mack Building on the home’s grounds. Both markers say the same thing.
Side 1: Following the Civil War, many of Ohio’s disabled and wounded veterans found inadequate provisions for their long-term needs. In response, the Grand Army of the Republic’s Department of Ohio lobbied for a state-operated veterans’ home. In 1886 Governor Joseph B. Foraker signed a bill establishing the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home for honorably discharged veterans. A board of trustees led by Sandusky publisher I.F. Mack selected the site, and the Sandusky community donated the tract of land, utilities, and a connection to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The facility opened in November 1888.
A little about the history of this home.