Hagen History Center Opens Perry Exhibit

The Command and Courage: Oliver Hazard Perry exhibit recreates Perry's quarters and displays artifacts tied to his War of 1812 service.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Military

Brass telescope and curved sword resting in a glass display case, with gray-blue lake water visible through a window beyond. — The Hagen History Center opened Command and Courage: Oliver Hazard Perry, an exhibit tracing Erie's role in building the American fleet Perry commanded on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Hagen History Center has opened Command and Courage: Oliver Hazard Perry, an exhibit recreating the feel of Perry's private quarters aboard ship. It features original documents, personal letters, and artifacts from his military and personal life, including his sword and telescope from the Hagen Collection.

Why it matters

The exhibit ties local history to the War of 1812 by spotlighting Erie's role in building Perry's fleet on Lake Erie. It offers residents direct access to primary materials connected to a key regional event.

The exhibit draws on the Hagen Collection and materials provided by Perry's descendants, including a marriage certificate, will, and a lock of hair. The source does not specify the exhibit's duration or visitor numbers.

The players

Oliver Hazard Perry

Perry was a U.S. Navy commander who built a fleet at Erie and won the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

Hagen History Center

The Hagen History Center is Erie's regional history museum, which houses the Hagen Collection and hosts the exhibit.

The details

Visitors can view Perry's sword, telescope, and personal papers arranged to recreate his shipboard quarters. The exhibit includes items provided by his descendants alongside documents tied to his command of American forces.

1813: Perry arrives in Erie with orders to build and command a fleet on Lake Erie.
September 10, 1813: Perry leads American forces into the Battle of Lake Erie.
November 5, 2026: The Command and Courage exhibit opens at the Hagen History Center.

Historical Context

The 1813 Battle of Lake Erie gave the United States control of the lake and helped secure the Northwest Territory during the War of 1812. The Command and Courage exhibit presents that campaign through the personal effects of its commander, Oliver Hazard Perry.

Erie residents can visit the Hagen History Center to see Perry's personal items and learn how the city figured in the War of 1812. The exhibit offers an accessible way to explore local history firsthand.

The takeaway

Local history often lives in personal objects as much as in battles. Visiting exhibits like this one can reveal how a regional event shaped the people who lived through it.