JOHNSON’S ISLAND
Confederate Prisoner of War Camp located in Sandusky Bay, Ohio. This Civil War site is one of the most significant sites in Ohio. It lies between Marblehead Peninsula, Cedar Point, and the city of Sandusky. It is about 30 minutes for anyone visiting Cedar Point and the Great Wolf Lodge, and wanting to add some historical flavor to their summer excursion to reach.
The Johnson’s Island Museum was opened in the summer of 2001. Many of its items are from private collections owned by individuals who want the public to learn about what happened there. The museum is open form Memmorial Day to Labor Day on weekends and holidays unless other arrangements are made through the historical society by e-mailing jipres@johnsonsisland.org
The history of the island dates back as far as 1809 to Epaproditus Bull. He and his family settled on Marblehead penninsula in May of 1809. But, due to numerous Indian attacks, they fled to Cleveland, Ohio. Bull died, having never returned to the island in 1812 of disease. His family returned to the peninsula and retained ownership of the Island until 1852.
In 1852, Leonard B. Johnson purchased the island and named it Johnson’s Island. He then proceeded to clear several acres of land for farming. In the Fall of 1861 and the beginning of the Civil War, the U.S. Army leased 40 cleared acres of the island from Johnson to establish a Prisoner of War Depot. The Depot was in operation for the Federals from April 1862, one year after the war began, until September 1865. The following year the Army auctioned off its interest and anything surplus on that site.
An additional point of interest while visiting Johnson’s Island is a side jaunt to the nearby Marblehead Lighthouse.
There are some great hotels in the area, or an additional side excursion after visiting the Island and the Lighthouse would be to hop the ferry in Port Clinton and visit Put-In-Bay. Home to the famous 1812 battle and the story of Commodore Perry.
Filed under: Civil War Blogs, Historical Travel suggestions by Savannah Meade
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