Grand River in Lake County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Welcome
Headlands Beach State Park
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026
1. Welcome Marker
Amazing Lake Erie
Lake Erie is renowned for its pivotal role in commerce and recreation, and as a biodiverse ecosystem teeming with an array of fish and wildlife. Spanning 241 miles from west to east, it is the shallowest of the five Great Lakes, averaging a depth of 62 feet and reaching its deepest at 210 feet. The lake gets its name from the Erie tribe of American Indians (Erie means "cat") who resided along its southern shore in the 17th century. It's steeped in history and marked by naval battles, such as the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812, and is the final resting place for an estimated 1,500 shipwrecks. Today, Lake Erie continues to be a cherished part of Ohio that intertwines nature, history, recreation, and community life.
Ohio's Best Beach
Headlands Beach State Park is renowned for its expansive 35-acre beach along Lake Erie a haven for those seeking sun, sand and surf and its rare lakeshore sand dune habitat, which is home to a variety of plant and wildlife species. In addition to the excellent swimming and sunbathing here, there is a paved trail along the park's dunes which is perfect for hiking
this page online
Try this!
Nearby Nature Preserve
Located at the east end of the park, Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve is one of the few remaining examples of Lake Erie beach and dune communities in Ohio. Many plant species not found in northeastern Ohio grow abundantly along the dunes. The dunes are one of best birding sites in Ohio, famous for its rarities and big fallouts of migrants.
Wetland Wonderland
The park's western part mysteriously went underwater and grew into a diverse wetland. The Sand Dune Marsh wetland is home to fish, turtles, amphibians, insects and waterfowl. Can you spot one of these animals on your adventure?
Erected by Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Parks & Recreational Areas • War of 1812 • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.
Location. 41° 45.364′ N, 81° 17.474′ W. Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026
2. Welcome Marker
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland, on the Lake Erie Shore, and in the Western Reserve. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Restoring Wetlands for Clean Water H2Ohio (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Birth of Neutrino Astronomy (approx. 0.2 miles away); From Pavement to Paradise (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Iron Warship in US Navy Foremast (approx. 0.7 miles away); Life Car (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lighthouse View (approx.
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026
3. Welcome Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026
4. Welcome Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 21, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
