(Toledo News Now) - Tall ships took over Lake Erie on Labor Day for the Battle of Lake Erie bicentennial. Thousands of people filled Port Clinton and Put-in-Bay over the weekend to join the celebration, which ended Monday with a battle re-enactment.
A total of 16 tall ships settled in for the bicentennial celebration, docking at nine different Canadian and American ports, including Port Clinton. Thousands from Ohio and other states came to climb aboard two of the ships on display.
Those who put the event together say the turnout was unbelievable.
"We had the tall ships. We had Bob Gilmore firing canons on the hour. We had the U.S. Navy Band, which was fabulous. The Ohio State Marching Band perhaps outdid them just a tiny bit. We had a huge crowd for the Ohio State Marching Band," said Bill Vandergiessen, co-chair of P.O.R.T.S. Committee.
The bicentennial celebration ended with the tall ships hitting the open waters of Lake Erie to re-enact one of the most critical battles in American history.
Ryan and Sam Halstead were given an up-close look at the tall ships from high in the sky. The father-and-son team were the winners of a silent auction held during the bicentennial celebration. Ryan says the view from the sky was awe-inspiring.
"Some of the ships, the flag, was just massive off the back, almost as big as the sail. It was very cool to see that flying and very nice to see," said Ryan.
The battle re-enactment was scheduled from noon to 2 p.m., but windy weather delayed it. As a result, the Halsteads missed the re-enactment during their flight and feel they missed a piece of American history.
"I think that would have been very nice. It probably would have been like going back a little bit in history to see that," said Sam.
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