Millcreek Township in Erie in Erie County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Feather: Public Art at Presque Isle

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

1. The Feather: Public Art at Presque Isle Marker

Inscription. The Feather is a work of sculpture commissioned in 1998 by the Erie Art Museum and designed by environmental artist Angelo Ciotti. On June 27, 2010, a tornado swept across the neck of the peninsula, destroying the original structure and the trees around which it had been designed and built. Thanks to the generosity of private donors, The Feather was rebuilt on its original footings beginning March 22, 2012 and was rededicated on May 17, 2012.

Envisioned after Ciotti saw a single white feather at the location site, The Feather invites the participant to stroll up the 100' wooden deck that overlooks the marsh on Presque Isle Bay and to relax and experience nature.

"The Feather is a vehicle to the true art-nature, the view."
Angelo Ciotti

The observation deck at Presque Isle State Park was commissioned as a functional piece of art by the Erie Art Museum in collaboration with the Public Art Committee, with the cooperation of the Presque Isle Advisory Board and Pennsylvania State Parks. The project was designed by Pittsburgh-based environmental artist Angelo Ciotti, and dedicated in the spring of 1998. The wooden

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ramp was constructed on a projection of land, known as Leo's Landing overlooking a pond and Presque Isle Bay beyond. The project. enabled visitors to view a unique and environmentally sensitive natural area of the park without intruding into it.

Major contributions to the original project included:
The Sweby Family, The Erie Community Foundation, the County of Erie, Crowner/ King Architects, Schick Matts Corp, Urban Engineers, Dahlkemper Landscape Architects & Contactors, Drs. Reichel & Reichel P.C., Mazza Wineries, Lignitech, David M. Laird and Associates, The Victory Foundation, GPU Energy, Health South, Eat'n Park, Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania, Marketplace Grill, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Hamot Medical Center, Liberty Iron Metal, Lowry Photography, Al Marschke, PNC Bank, and Times Publishing Company.

Thanks also to those who worked on the original installation, including Vlado Benden, Gene Brenning Richard Brown, Frank Fratus, Kim Hanrahan, Mike Jefferys, Kevin Molloy, Daryl Panko, John St. George, Glen Sementelli, Dan Spires John Vanco and Dave Watkins. Special thanks to the students at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

The Public Art Committee included Richard Reichel II, Co-Chairman Dan Dahlkemper, Jody Farrell, Mary Hoenes, Judy Kubeja, Lisa Louis, Bob Lowry, Nan Means, Kim Peden, Dave Skellie, Jeff Spaulding, and John Vanco.

In memory of Herb and Audrey Sweny [Caption]
Thank you to the generous donors and workers who made the rebuild possible: Sweny Family, Mary & Howard Lincoln and Family, Erie Art Museum
Dan Kerchansky of Kerchansky Construction, Daniel Burke and students of Mercyhurst University Art Department

Topics.

The Feather: Public Art at Presque Isle Marker (right) looking North on N. Peninsula Drive image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

2. The Feather: Public Art at Presque Isle Marker (right) looking North on N. Peninsula Drive

Leo's Landing marker is on the left

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Disasters • Environment. A significant historical date for this entry is May 27, 2012.

Location. 42° 7.612′ N, 80° 8.707′ W. Marker is in Erie, Pennsylvania, in Erie County. It is in Millcreek Township. It is on North Peninsula Drive one mile north of Old Lake Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is along the Presque Isle Bike Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Erie PA 16507, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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 Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies:

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

3. The Feather

Leo's Landing (within shouting distance of this marker); A Partnership Is Born (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Barracks (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Walk in the Park (approx. ¼ mile away); The Old Road (approx. one mile away); Presque Isle (approx. 1.2 miles away); Protecting Presque Isle (approx. 1.2 miles away); Giant Gondola Wheel (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Erie.

More about this marker. The art work is at the end of the boardwalk, a short distance from the marker

Boardwalk leading to The Feather image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

4. Boardwalk leading to The Feather

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 30, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.