Kelleys Island in Erie County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Inscription Rock
By Dale K. Benington, September 30, 2005
1. Inscription Rock Marker
Between three and four hundred years ago, Ohio pre-historic Indians, believed to be of the Erie tribe, pecked numerous inscriptions or pictographs on the top surface of this large native limestone rock. The figures, now nearly obliterated by the elements, measured and drawn in detail by Captain Seth Eastman, United States Army, in 1850. This relief of the Inscription Rock was made from the original Eastman drawing. Scale is approximately 1 to 15. The meanings of the pictographs are not known. There are at least eight human figures, all with headdresses and some smoking pipes; also animal and bird forms.Erected 1968 by Ohio Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Landmarks • Native Americans.
Location. 41° 35.52′ N, 82° 42.444′ W. Marker is in Kelleys Island, Ohio, in Erie County. Marker is at the intersection of Lake Shore Road and Addison Road, on the right when traveling east on Lake Shore Road. This historical marker is
By Dale K. Benington, September 30, 2005
2. Inscription Rock Marker
Close-up view of the scale model reproduction of Inscription Rock that is affixed to this historical marker.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Island House (approx. ¼ mile away); The German Reformed Church / The Church Parsonage (approx. half a mile away); Glacial Grooves State Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Marblehead Lighthouse (approx. 3.8 miles away); The Light / The Keepers of the Light (approx. 3.9 miles away); Lake Erie (approx. 3.9 miles away); Lakeside (approx. 3.9 miles away); The Fire of October 20, 1929 / The Lakeside Volunteer Fire Protective Association (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kelleys Island.
By Dale K. Benington, September 30, 2005
3. Inscription Rock Marker
View of the Ohio Historical Society property marker situated in front of Inscription Rock, which can be seen in the background along the Lake Erie shoreline.
By Dale K. Benington, September 30, 2005
4. Inscription Rock Marker
View looking west along the island's Lake Erie shoreline of the structure built to protect Inscription Rock.
By Dale K. Benington, September 30, 2005
5. Inscription Rock Marker
A more distant view, looking west along the island's Lake Erie shoreline, of the structure built to protect Inscription Rock and the adjacent shoreline.
By Dale K. Benington, September 30, 2005
6. Inscription Rock Marker
View looking north, from a watercraft in the waters of Lake Erie, of Inscription Rock.
By J. J. Prats, August 7, 2019
7. Inscription Rock Itself
Ektachrome by Helen S. O’Brien. J.J. Prats Postcard Collection., undated
8. Inscription Rock , Kelleys Island—Lake Erie, Ohio
Postcard showing the previous historical marker at this location. The inscription is difficult to read but appears to be the same as the current marker. The back of the postcard reads, “Between three and four hundred years ago, Ohio prehistoric Indians believed to be of the Erie tribe, pecked numerous inscriptions or pictographs an the top surface of this large native limestone rock.” Undated postcard published by Gainsborough Studio, Sandusky, Ohio, No. 91-K-26/64675. It is a Dextone card “made direct fromKodachrome and Ansco Color by Dexter Press, Inc., West Nyack, N. Y.”
Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2010. This page has been viewed 1,592 times since then and 5 times this year. Last updated on October 30, 2020, by Robert Baughman of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 26, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 7. submitted on November 3, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 8. submitted on November 7, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
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