LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Historic sites can attract cruise ships

12/8/2013

In response to your Nov. 27 article “Port board hears cruise pitch; Presentation outlines the merits of being Great Lakes port of call”: The Toledo area has the potential to be a major draw for historic tourism.

Europeans, particularly the British, are fascinated by the Pioneer Era. The struggles of Native Americans to maintain their way of life, despite European pressure and American expansion, create a high sense of drama painted on a canvas of raw wilderness.

Several years ago, a London-based travel agent told a colleague of mine that once the Fallen Timbers Battlefield opened, she could book planeloads of British tourists, because of its recognized significance as the actual last battle of the Revolutionary War.

The history of our region is unique and we have several sites dedicated to telling that story: Fort Meigs State Memorial, River Raisin National Battlefield, Fallen Timbers Battlefield, Fort Miamis National Historic Site, Providence Metropark, the Wolcott House Museum, and many others.

In addition to American settlers and Indians, French, English, Canadian, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and many other cultures were part of the frontier wars. With the opening of the battlefield portion of the Fallen Timbers site on Metroparks of the Toledo Area’s agenda for its 220th anniversary in 2014, we need to look ahead and build on our special history to bring visitors and tourist dollars to the area.

Our history makes us unique. If it is developed properly, it could be our strongest attraction.

DAVE WESTRICK

President Fallen Timbers Battlefield Preservation Commission Maumee