Tour & Cruise Schedule • Terms & Conditions

Oliver Hazard Perry:
The War of 1812 on Lake Erie

June 3-9, 2007

• Overview
• Historian Guide: Craig Symonds
• Itinerary 7 days / 6 nights
• Click to see PDF map
• Cost

To book this tour, call (800) 628-8542

Overview

Led by acclaimed Civil War and naval historian Craig Symonds, tour participants will envision Lake Erie as a distant frontier of dense forests and untracked wilderness, the key to the great western empire granted to the United States by the British in the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Based on one of the great naval battles that shaped American history and described in detail in Craig's latest book, Decision at Sea, this tour is truly a handcrafted, one-of-a-kind event. Here is the chance not only to relive Perry's great victory, but also to understand what control of Lake Erie meant to our country in the immediate aftermath.

Craig Symonds

Recently retired, Craig Symonds was an acclaimed professor of history at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is an expert on the Civil War and the War of 1812 and has written many books. Two of the most acclaimed are his prize-winning biography of Patrick Cleburne, Stonewall of the West, and his latest book, Decision at Sea.

Day by Day

Sunday, June 3 - Gather at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Cleveland for a welcome briefing and dinner hosted by Craig Symonds and HistoryAmerica.

Monday, June 4 - Building the Fleet: Start the day at the Perry statue and head east to Presque Isle, PA, where Perry's vessels were constructed. We arrive in Erie with hopes of seeing the restored brig Niagara in port. The excellent Erie Maritime Museum will review the entire story and set the stage. We overnight again in Cleveland.

Tuesday, June 5 - "Don't Give up the Ship": Relive the Battle of Lake Erie from Put-in-Bay. Craig will recreate this event from Perry's Victory Monument built on South Bass Island from which Perry sailed to engage the British. We spend this night in Toledo.

Wednesday, June 6 - Brock and Hull: The Contest for Detroit: Learn why the two British sieges of Fort Meigs were unsuccessful and explore the large fort. Move on to Detroit where we take up the encounters between Isaac Brock and William Hull that led to the British capture of Detroit. We spend the last three nights of the tour in Dearborn.

Thursday, June 7 - Remember The River Raisin: After a classroom session with Craig we head south today to Monroe, MI, where we learn about the terrible massacre of the village of Frenchtown on the Red River.

Friday, June 8 - Battle of the Thames: Cross the Detroit River to Ontario, Canada, and tour Fort Malden, the main British base on Lake Erie. This site where General Harrison and the American militia met a force of British and Indians will be our final stop. This encounter resulted in the death of the legendary Shawnee warrior Tecumseh. Our farewell dinner is tonight.

Saturday, June 9 - Depart at leisure following breakfast. You may ride the bus on a deadhead back to Cleveland. We advise not to book departure flights from Cleveland before 3 pm.

Cost ~ 7 days / 6 nights

Historian Guide Craig Symonds
Services of a professional tour director
Deluxe transportation
All admissions to included features
Six nights hotel accommodations
Six breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners
Taxes, baggage handling, and gratuities on included features
Suggested reading list

Per person, double occupancy: $2,135
Per person, single occupancy: $2,495