South Bass Island Toboggan Water Slide

This aerial view shows the toboggan water slide on South Bass Island. Many such water slides existed on bathing beaches on Lake Erie's islands during the 1920s. .

Steamers at Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio

During its heydey, the first decades of the 20th century, Lake Erie steamer service to the islands made Sandusky's Columbus Avenue a busy place. Boats carried visitors to resorts and beaches throughout the islands.

The Steamer Pearl

This image, taken around 1880 shows the steamer "Pearl" readying to dock at the Put-in-Bay House on South Bass Island. Sandy beaches, warm waters, natural harbors, and wineries began attracting visitors to the Erie Islands in the 1860s. This picture shows the harbor at Put-in-Bay taken from Gibraltar Island.