Summer In Northwest Ohio: Beautiful Lake Erie And Islands Spotlight

Summer is full of exciting activities! Sometimes we get so caught up in all the festivals, events, and holidays that we forget to relax and enjoy the warm, sunny weather. Fortunately for us, Northwest Ohio has its own summer retreat right in our backyard — Lake Erie and its islands — making a relaxing beach getaway surprisingly accessible.

Lake Erie and its islands have provided a fun, relaxing destination for people in our area for over 100 years, and the Toledo Library's Local History Department has a variety of books and photographs documenting the area over the years, including the works listed here. To explore all the resources we have, explore our Catalog and Digital Collections.

If you're planning a nice getaway to Lake Erie and its islands this summer, be sure to take a good book. Lounging on the beach with a diverting novel from the Library is a great way to relax, and to log a day of reading for Summer Read!

Haven't signed up for Summer Read yet? Learn how here!

Lake Erie historical map, 1901

Vacation, Sugar Island, Ohio (approximately 1905)

Stacey's, Middle Bass Island, Ohio (approximately 1879)

Strait of Gibraltar, Gibraltar Island, Ohio (approximately 1879)

West Sister Island, West Sister Island, Ohio (approximately 1920)

Turtle Island, Turtle Island, Ohio (approximately 1910)