# Presque Isle State Park

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Pennsylvania state park on Lake Erie

For the Michigan park, see [Presque Isle Park](/source/Presque_Isle_Park).

Presque Isle State Park Aerial view of Presque Isle toward the east-northeast Interactive map of Presque Isle State Park Location Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States Coordinates 42°06′35″N 80°09′14″W / 42.10964°N 80.15384°W / 42.10964; -80.15384[1] Area 3,112.29 acres (1,259.50 ha) Elevation 576 feet (176 m) Established 1921 Administrator Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Website Official website Presque Isle State Park Presque Isle State Park Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Presque Isle State Park Presque Isle State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States Pennsylvania State Parks U.S. National Natural Landmark Designated 1967

**Presque Isle State Park** ([/prɛsk/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*PRESK*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)) is a 3,112-acre (1,259 ha) [Pennsylvania State Park](/source/List_of_Pennsylvania_state_parks) on an arching, sandy [peninsula](/source/Peninsula) jutting into [Lake Erie](/source/Lake_Erie), 4 miles (6 km) west of the city of [Erie](/source/Erie%2C_Pennsylvania), in [Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania](/source/Millcreek_Township%2C_Erie_County%2C_Pennsylvania), in the United States. The peninsula sweeps northeastward, surrounding [Presque Isle Bay](/source/Presque_Isle_Bay) along the park's southern coast. It has 13 miles (21 km) of roads, 21 miles (34 km) of recreational trails, 13 beaches for swimming, and a marina. Popular activities at the park include [swimming](/source/Human_swimming), [boating](/source/Boating), [hiking](/source/Hiking), [biking](/source/Biking), and [birdwatching](/source/Birdwatching).[1]

The [recorded history](/source/Recorded_history) of Presque Isle begins with the [Erielhonan](/source/Erie_(tribe)), a [Native American](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States) tribe who gave their name to Lake Erie, and includes French, British, and American forts, as well as serving as a base for [Commodore](/source/Commodore_(United_States)) [Oliver Hazard Perry](/source/Oliver_Hazard_Perry)'s fleet in the [War of 1812](/source/War_of_1812). With the growing importance of [shipping](/source/Ship_transport) on Lake Erie in the 19th century, Presque Isle became home to several [lighthouses](/source/Lighthouse) and what later became a [United States Coast Guard](/source/United_States_Coast_Guard) station. In 1921, it became a state park, and as of 2007, it hosts over 4 million visitors per year, the most of any Pennsylvania state park.[1]

The Presque Isle peninsula formed on a [moraine](/source/Moraine) from the end of the [Wisconsin glaciation](/source/Wisconsin_glaciation) and is constantly being reshaped by waves and wind. This pattern leads to seven ecological zones within the park, which provides a classic example of [ecological succession](/source/Ecological_succession). A [National Natural Landmark](/source/National_Natural_Landmark) since 1967, the park has been named one of the best places in the United States for watching birds, particularly in the Gull Point Natural Area. The [Tom Ridge Environmental Center](/source/Tom_Ridge_Environmental_Center) at the entrance to the park allows visitors to learn more about the park and its ecology. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks has chosen Presque Isle State Park for its list of "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks".[2]

The park was one of five Pennsylvania State Parks in the path of totality for the [2024 solar eclipse](/source/Solar_eclipse_of_April_8%2C_2024), with 3 minutes and 45 seconds of [totality](/source/Totality_(eclipse)).[3]

## History

Main article: [History of Presque Isle](/source/History_of_Presque_Isle)

### Early inhabitants

Presque Isle was formed at the end of the [Wisconsin glaciation](/source/Wisconsin_glaciation) about 11,000 years ago.[4] The earliest known inhabitants of the southern Lake Erie coast were the [Erielhonan](/source/Erie_(tribe)), also known as the "Eriez", an [Iroquoian](/source/Iroquoian_languages) speaking tribe of [Native Americans](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States). Erielhonan referred to the "Cat" or "Raccoon" people, and the name "Erie" is a corruption of Erielhonan. This name became the name of the lake and county in which Presque Isle Park is located, as well as the name of the city nearest the park.[5][6]

An Erielhonan legend taught that the [Great Spirit](/source/Great_Spirit) led them to Presque Isle because of the wealth of [game](/source/Game_(food)), the abundance of clean fresh water, and the cool breezes "coming from the land of snow and ice" (i.e., Canada). Another legend explains how the Erielhonan ventured into Lake Erie in search of the land where the sun set, but the spirit of the lake blew a fierce storm to keep them from finding it.[1] To protect the Erielhonan from the storm, their god laid his outstretched arm into the lake, giving them safety during the storm. The god's arm remained in the lake, protecting the tribe's future generations.[5]

The Erielhonan are believed to have lived and farmed on the peninsula.[4] They fought several wars, the last starting in 1653 with the Five Nations of the [Iroquois](/source/Iroquois). Despite initial victories over the [Senecas](/source/Seneca_tribe), in 1654 the Erielhonans' largest village, Rique (at the modern city of Erie), was destroyed by 1,800 Iroquois warriors. By 1656, the Erielhonan had been largely destroyed as a distinct people, although some survivors were adopted by the Iroquois, who primarily absorbed them into the Seneca community.[5][6]

### Forts, settlers, and the War of 1812

The French first named the peninsula in the 1720s; *[presque-isle](/source/Presque-isle)* means peninsula (lit. 'almost an island') in French. They built [Fort Presque Isle](/source/Fort_Presque_Isle) at the modern city of Erie in the summer of 1753, naming it for the peninsula that protected the fort. The French also built two "military outposts" on Presque Isle itself. The first outpost was situated at the entrance to the peninsula, and the second was constructed at the easternmost point.[4] During the [French and Indian War](/source/French_and_Indian_War), the French abandoned their outposts and burned their fort in 1759.[7] The British constructed a new fort of the same name that year, which later fell to Native American forces on June 19, 1763, during [Pontiac's Rebellion](/source/Pontiac's_Rebellion).[8]

The Perry Monument on Presque Isle commemorates the U.S. naval victory on Lake Erie in the War of 1812.

Presque Isle passed from British to American control after the [American Revolutionary War](/source/American_Revolutionary_War), and the Iroquois sold their rights to the land containing the peninsula to the United States at the second [Treaty of Fort Stanwix](/source/Treaty_of_Fort_Stanwix_(1784)) in 1784. Pennsylvania did not acquire an undisputed title to the land until it purchased the [Erie Triangle](/source/Erie_Triangle) from the federal government on April 3, 1792. In 1795 General [Anthony Wayne](/source/Anthony_Wayne) built a new, American "Fort Presque Isle", and on April 18 of that year the town of "Presqu' Ile", since renamed Erie, was laid out near it. Wayne died at the fort on December 15, 1796, and was originally buried there.[9]

[Erie County](/source/Erie_County%2C_Pennsylvania) was formed from [Allegheny County](/source/Allegheny_County%2C_Pennsylvania) on March 12, 1800. [Millcreek Township](/source/Millcreek_Township%2C_Erie_County%2C_Pennsylvania), which initially contained both the Presque Isle peninsula and the village of Erie, was one of the original townships. Erie was named the [county seat](/source/County_seat) in 1803, incorporated as a borough in 1805, and became a city in 1851.[10]

During the [War of 1812](/source/War_of_1812), Presque Isle played a part in the victory over the British in the [Battle of Lake Erie](/source/Battle_of_Lake_Erie).[11] Oliver Hazard Perry, commander of the American fleet, made strategic use of the bay as a place to construct six of the nine ships in his fleet. Using this location protected the men by creating an obstacle, forcing potential attackers to circumnavigate the peninsula to reach them.[4][11]

The "Little Bay" near the tip of the peninsula where the ships sheltered, next to the current Perry's Monument, was later named "Misery Bay" because of the hardships during the winter of 1813–1814, after the men returned there from battle.[1] Many men suffered from [smallpox](/source/Smallpox) and were kept in [quarantine](/source/Quarantine) near the bay. Many infected men died and were buried in what is now called Graveyard Pond.[1][4][11]

After the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, Perry's two largest ships were severely damaged, and the [US Brig *Lawrence*](/source/USS_Lawrence_(1813)) was intentionally sunk in Misery Bay. The *Lawrence* was raised in 1875 but was burned while on display at the 1876 [Centennial Exposition](/source/Centennial_Exposition). The [US Brig *Niagara*](/source/USS_Niagara_(1813)) was initially repaired, then sunk for preservation in 1820 and raised in 1913, and parts of it were eventually used in the current *Niagara*, based across Presque Isle Bay in Erie.[1][11]

### Lighthouses and Coast Guard

The Presque Isle Light began operation in 1873 and is still in service today.

The Presque Isle peninsula forms Presque Isle Bay, which serves as a natural harbor for Erie. During the 19th century, as navigation on Lake Erie grew increasingly critical, shipping aids were constructed on Presque Isle. As of 2007, two main [lighthouses](/source/Lighthouses) can be found in the park. The [Erie Harbor North Pier Light](/source/Erie_Harbor_North_Pier_Light) began as a wooden tower, erected in 1830. In 1858, a stronger steel structure was imported from France and installed at Erie to replace the wooden beacon, which a schooner had damaged. This light still stands at the far eastern side of the park, near the inlet between the lake and the bay.[1]

The [Presque Isle Light](/source/Presque_Isle_Light) was constructed in 1872 on the north side of Presque Isle and was lit on July 12, 1873. This light is 74-foot-tall (23 m), with a red brick house that was used as a lighthouse keeper residence, and later a park residence. Today, the lighthouse is maintained by the United States Coast Guard and flashes a white light to warn ships of the sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie. The light station is open to public tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day on weekends, weather permitting (see presqueislelighthouse.org).[1][12] A third, more miniature lighthouse was built in 1906 by the [Erie Waterworks](/source/Erie_Waterworks) on the Presque Isle Bay side of the peninsula. Today it stands in the ferry landing for the [Presque Isle Water Taxi](/source/Presque_Isle_Water_Taxi) service, south of the former waterworks along the state park's multi-purpose trail on the southeast side of Presque Isle.[13][14]

[United States Life-Saving Service](/source/United_States_Life-Saving_Service) District 9 opened a life-saving station at Presque Isle in 1876. William Clark was the keeper from 1877 until he drowned in 1891. He was succeeded by Andrew Jansen, who was the keeper until 1914. When the Life-Saving Service and the [Revenue Cutter Service](/source/Revenue_Cutter_Service) merged in 1915 to become the [United States Coast Guard](/source/United_States_Coast_Guard), LSS Presque Isle, also called the Erie life-saving station, became Coast Guard Station #236. The station, still in operation, is assigned to the Ninth District of the United States Coast Guard.[15]

### Modern era and state park

In 1908, Erie started building a [waterworks](/source/Waterworks) on Presque Isle to provide [fresh water](/source/Fresh_water) for the city. Water from Lake Erie was pumped into two [reservoirs](/source/Reservoir) on the peninsula, where particulates in the water were allowed to settle, removing them from the lake water. After treatment, the water flowed into the city's water supply lines. In 1917, a pumphouse powered by a steam engine was built, which pumped water from one basin into the other, then across Presque Isle Bay to Erie. This system of supplying drinking water for Erie operated until 1949. The pumphouse is now used for [zebra mussel](/source/Zebra_mussel) control and as a concession stand for bicycle and [quadracycle](/source/Quadracycle) rentals within the state park.[1]

The small lighthouse along the multipurpose trail in the state park, near the former waterworks

As Pennsylvania's only surf beach, the Presque Isle beaches were already a popular attraction when the state legislature authorized the creation of the "Pennsylvania State Park at Erie" in May 1921.[16] Oversight was given to the new "State Park and Harbor Commission of Erie", including local representation, instead of to the state Department of Forests and Waters. Presque Isle quickly became the most popular state park in Pennsylvania. Presque Isle was an early example of locating state parks near cities, a trend that would become prevalent statewide only in the 1960s.[17]

The first paved road was built in the park in 1924,[4] and today 13 miles (21 km) of roads run through the park.[1] [Pennsylvania Route 832](/source/Pennsylvania_Route_832) is the main road into the park, and is subsequently known as Peninsula Drive.[18] Presque Isle has been referred to as "Peninsula State Park".[19] The Perry Monument in the park was constructed in 1926 near Misery Bay and the burials in Graveyard Pond.[1]

By 1937, official state publications were referring to the park as "Presque Isle State Park", and that same year, it led the state park system with 1.4 million visitors.[20][21] In the 1950s the peninsula was enlarged to accommodate new roads and parking, using 3 million square yards (2,500,000 m2) of sand dredged from the interior of the peninsula. The resulting basin became the current marina. Other new facilities included three modern bath houses built in 1957.[4] That same year, Gull Point (at the eastern end of the peninsula) was named a nature preserve by the state.[22][23]

Presque Isle was named a [National Natural Landmark](/source/National_Natural_Landmark) by the [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service) in 1967.[24] A recommendation was made to abolish the independent board as early as 1930, although this did not come about until January 19, 1971, with the creation of the state Department of Environmental Resources (which later became the DCNR).[25][26] From 1989 to 1992, over 50 [breakwaters](/source/Breakwater_(structure)) were built along the western and northern shore of the peninsula to help control erosion.[22] In 1997 the park's [Important Bird Area](/source/Important_Bird_Area) (IBA) was one of the first 73 IBAs established in Pennsylvania.[27] As part of the *State Parks 2000* strategic plan of the [Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_Conservation_and_Natural_Resources) (DCNR), Gull Point was named a "State Park Natural Area for rare and migratory shorebirds to rest, feed and possibly nest".[1][28]

The [Tom Ridge Environmental Center](/source/Tom_Ridge_Environmental_Center) at the entrance to the park opened in May 2006. As of 2007, the Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Parks, which administers all 120 Pennsylvania state parks, had chosen Presque Isle for its "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" list, citing its status as Pennsylvania's only surf beach, its status as a National Natural Landmark, and its "geological and biological diversity and its historic significance".[2] Scenes for the film [*The Road*](/source/The_Road_(2009_film)) were shot at Presque Isle in April 2008, with Beach 10 used as a seashore.[29]

A weak [tornado](/source/Tornado) touched down in the state park on June 27, 2010. Rated EF0 on the [Enhanced Fujita Scale](/source/Enhanced_Fujita_Scale), it downed power lines and trees near the Stull Interpretive Center, and also damaged a nearby observation platform. Presque Isle was closed on June 28 to facilitate the clean-up of the debris and reopened the next morning.[30]

During [Hurricane Sandy](/source/Hurricane_Sandy) in October 2012, parts and remnants of the storm reached Presque Isle. The park was closed in preparation for the storm, with waves expected to reach 14–18 feet and high winds anticipated. The storm was expected to be severe, but it was not. Only 8-foot waves were recorded, and not as high winds either. The park emerged with only minor flooding, a few downed trees, and the loss of power at the park marina.[31]

## Geology and climate

Migration of Presque Isle from 1790 to 1971

Presque Isle is a recurved sand [spit](/source/Spit_(landform)) formed during the [last glacial period](/source/Last_glacial_period), or ice age, when the [Laurentide Ice Sheet](/source/Laurentide_Ice_Sheet) advanced into the basin now occupied by [Lake Erie](/source/Lake_Erie), and, when it retreated to the north between 12,370 BC and 12,790 BC, left behind a [moraine](/source/Moraine) consisting of clay, sand, and gravel which initially formed the peninsula. The deposits are constantly being reworked by wave action and gradually migrating to the northeast due to [longshore drift](/source/Longshore_drift).[32][33]

The French term *presqu'île*, the origin of the park's name, means "peninsula", or, literally, "almost an island". Despite its name, Presque Isle has been an island for brief periods, cut off from the mainland several times since 1819—the longest stretch was from 1832 to 1864.[34] In the 1950s, to combat erosion, the state and federal governments built sets of concrete [seawalls](/source/Seawall) and perpendicular [groins](/source/Groyne).[22] In 1992, a series of 58 [breakwaters](/source/Breakwater_(structure)) were also constructed to help capture sand and significantly slow its movement eastward. Even with the substantial engineering projects, sand must be relocated from [tombolos](/source/Tombolo) which form behind the breakwaters, and new sand must be trucked in annually to [replenish the beaches](/source/Beach_nourishment).[35]

Presque Isle protects the natural Presque Isle Bay, which creates a deep and wide harbor for the city of Erie. The bay is often filled with [pleasure craft](/source/Pleasure_craft) as well as cargo ships from all over the world that use the [Great Lakes](/source/Great_Lakes) shipping port.[1] Erie became an international port after the opening of the [Saint Lawrence Seaway](/source/Saint_Lawrence_Seaway) in 1959.

A winter day at Presque Isle State Park

Owing to the park's location relative to Erie, its climate is similar to that of the city. Erie and the peninsula are located in a [snow belt](/source/Snow_belt) that stretches from [Cleveland](/source/Cleveland) to [Syracuse](/source/Syracuse%2C_New_York) and [Watertown](/source/Watertown_(city)%2C_New_York); accordingly, its winters are typically cold, with heavy [lake-effect snow](/source/Lake-effect_snow), but also with occasional stretches of mild weather that cause accumulated snow to melt. The Erie region lies in the [humid continental zone](/source/Humid_continental_climate) ([Köppen](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) *Dfa*).[36] Presque Isle's lakeside location helps to temper summer heat, with an average of only 3.8 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs annually, and the highest temperature ever recorded was 100 °F (38 °C) on June 25, 1988; there is an average of 2.5 days with lows of 0 °F (−18 °C) or colder annually, and the lowest temperature ever recorded was −18 °F (−28 °C) on January 19, 1994, and February 16, 2015.[37] [Ice dunes](/source/Ice_dune) typically form along the beaches in the winter from snowfall and frozen [spray](/source/Spray_(liquid_drop)), and usually reach a height over 6 feet (1.8 m).[38] The dunes protect the beaches from erosion during winter storms, and continue growing until the surface of Lake Erie freezes in the winter.[38]

Climate data for Erie, Pennsylvania (Erie International Airport), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1873–present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °F (°C) 73 (23) 75 (24) 82 (28) 89 (32) 91 (33) 100 (38) 99 (37) 96 (36) 99 (37) 89 (32) 82 (28) 75 (24) 100 (38) Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 33.7 (0.9) 35.5 (1.9) 43.8 (6.6) 56.1 (13.4) 66.6 (19.2) 75.7 (24.3) 79.8 (26.6) 78.6 (25.9) 71.9 (22.2) 60.8 (16.0) 49.9 (9.9) 38.1 (3.4) 57.7 (14.3) Daily mean °F (°C) 27.2 (−2.7) 28.3 (−2.1) 35.7 (2.1) 47.1 (8.4) 57.4 (14.1) 67.1 (19.5) 71.7 (22.1) 70.5 (21.4) 63.8 (17.7) 53.0 (11.7) 43.3 (6.3) 32.4 (0.2) 49.9 (9.9) Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 20.8 (−6.2) 21.1 (−6.1) 27.5 (−2.5) 38.1 (3.4) 48.2 (9.0) 58.4 (14.7) 63.5 (17.5) 62.5 (16.9) 55.8 (13.2) 45.3 (7.4) 36.6 (2.6) 26.6 (−3.0) 42.1 (5.6) Record low °F (°C) −18 (−28) −18 (−28) −9 (−23) 7 (−14) 26 (−3) 32 (0) 44 (7) 37 (3) 33 (1) 23 (−5) 6 (−14) −11 (−24) −18 (−28) Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.95 (75) 2.39 (61) 2.95 (75) 3.33 (85) 3.44 (87) 3.76 (96) 3.54 (90) 3.47 (88) 4.61 (117) 4.05 (103) 3.93 (100) 3.74 (95) 42.16 (1,071) Average snowfall inches (cm) 29.6 (75) 18.2 (46) 13.7 (35) 3.2 (8.1) — 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.2 (0.51) 8.5 (22) 27.5 (70) 100.9 (256) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 19.6 15.0 14.3 13.9 12.8 11.1 10.2 10.3 11.1 13.4 15.5 19.2 166.4 Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 16.5 11.7 8.0 2.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 4.4 13.6 57.1 Average relative humidity (%) 74.5 75.4 71.9 67.9 68.9 71.3 71.7 74.0 74.5 71.1 72.3 75.0 72.4 Source: NOAA (relative humidity 1961–1990)[37][39][40]

## Flora, fauna, and habitat

The shore on the bay side, looking north

### Ecological zones and succession

According to the DCNR, because it has so "many unique habitats, Presque Isle contains a greater number of the state's endangered, threatened and rare species than any other area of comparable size in Pennsylvania".[1] The DCNR recognizes seven different ecological zones within Presque Isle State Park, each with a different plant and animal community. These zones are: Lake Erie; the beaches and shoreline; sandy plain and ponds; dunes and ridges; [marshes](/source/Marsh) and old ponds; [heath](/source/Heath) and sub-climax forest; and the [climax forest](/source/Climax_vegetation).[34] Lake Erie, which surrounds the park, is the first zone and is home to 80 species of fish and at least six species of crustaceans.[41][42]

The remaining ecological zones, with their progression from shoreline to climax forest, are a classic illustration of the concept of [ecological succession](/source/Ecological_succession). Much of this progression is due to the changing nature of Presque Isle and its shifting shoreline and dunes. The shoreline, the second zone, is formed by wave action and is in equilibrium between erosion and deposition, with the initial plants stabilizing the sand of the new shoreline. The newly formed sandy plain and the ponds that have formed within it comprise the third zone. The ponds start as trapped pockets of lake water and can erode or be filled by wind-blown sand or drifting dunes.[43] The new ponds provide habitat for plants and animals: for example, the state park is home to 89 species of [Odonata](/source/Odonata) (dragonflies and damselflies) and [Lepidoptera](/source/Lepidoptera), including 35 different butterflies, as well as 84 different sorts of spiders.[4][41]

The cerulean warbler is a rare species found in the park.

Dunes and ridges are the fourth zone, formed when beach sand transported by wind and waves becomes trapped by vegetation. Dunes grow and are stabilized by grasses, followed by other types of vegetation. This process offers habitat for amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Old dunes can become more permanent ridges, which shelter ponds. These dunes, ridges, and ponds are often remnants of previous shorelines. At Presque Isle State Park, "Long Pond", just east of the marina, dunes and ridges mark the eastern shoreline as it existed in 1862.[4] The fifth ecological zone consists of old ponds and marshes. Ponds protected by dunes and ridges are more stable; these old ponds support a greater variety of plant and animal life, and as they fill with vegetation, they become marshes. Old ponds and marshes have high [biodiversity](/source/Biodiversity).[4] Nearly 400 species of terrestrial vertebrates live on Presque Isle, including 318 different birds, 48 kinds of mammals, 13 types of amphibians, and 19 reptile species.[41]

Colors of Autumn

The sixth and seventh ecological zones are characterized by their shrub and tree species. Presque Isle State Park is home to 633 plant species (195 [monocotyledons](/source/Monocotyledon), 410 [dicotyledons](/source/Dicotyledon), 5 [gymnosperms](/source/Gymnosperm), 5 [horsetails](/source/Horsetail), 13 [ferns](/source/Fern), and 5 [mosses](/source/Moss)).[41] The sixth zone, thicket and sub-climax forest, forms when shrubs grow on dying marshes, followed by small trees. The trees shade and thin out the thickets of shrubs, leading to a sub-climax forest. The seventh and final stage is climax forest, where many large trees form a [canopy](/source/Canopy_(forest)). If left undisturbed, this ecological succession is believed to take between 500 and 600 years, although visitors to parts of Presque Isle State Park can walk through all of these zones in 5 miles (8 km).[44]

The Pennsylvania [Audubon Society](/source/Audubon_Society) has listed the park as Pennsylvania [Important Bird Area](/source/Important_Bird_Area) (IBA) #1, and it considered one of the best birdwatching sites in Pennsylvania.[45][46] The diversity of [habitats](/source/Habitat_(ecology)) on the peninsula makes it an ideal home for over 320 species of birds. (For comparison, the United States has about 925 bird species.) Forty-five of the bird species found in the park are listed as "[endangered](/source/Endangered)" or "threatened", including the [piping plover](/source/Piping_plover), [cerulean warbler](/source/Cerulean_warbler), [rusty blackbird](/source/Rusty_blackbird) and [saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow](/source/Saltmarsh_sharp-tailed_sparrow).[22][41] [Waterfowl](/source/Waterfowl) and [wading birds](/source/Wader) live at Presque Isle year round. Four species of [gull](/source/Gull) and three species of [tern](/source/Tern) can be seen at Gull Point during the summer months. The majority of the collection during the annual [Christmas Bird Count](/source/Christmas_Bird_Count), which has been held in Erie County since 1956, is garnered from observations made by volunteers within the park.[47] Many different [species](/source/Species) of plants and animals can also be found at Presque Isle State Park due to the wide variety of ecological zones.[23]

### Gull Point Natural Area

Human beings have played a role in the ecology of Presque Isle since at least the time of the Erielhonan. The natural drift of sand is hindered or stopped by breakwaters, permanent structures, and roads. Roads also fail to absorb rainwater, leading to erosion and disruption of natural habitats. Excavations, such as those for the waterworks basins or the marina, have destroyed habitats; however, yearly artificial replenishment with sand helps create new ones. One area within the park is closed to all public use from April to November to minimize the impact of humans: it is the easternmost part of the park, Gull Point.[1][4]

Aerial view of Gull Point and Presque Isle State Park from the east

Gull Point at Presque Isle State Park has been designated as a Pennsylvania "State Park Natural Area". These areas provide locations for scientific observation of natural systems, protecting examples of natural interest and beauty, as well as unique and typical habitats for animals and plants.[23][28]

Gull Point covers 319 acres (129 ha), of which 67 acres (27 ha) form the Natural Area and are closed to park visitors during the height of the bird migrations. The natural area is a haven and resting spot for migrating and nesting birds. Many of the species of birds that rest at Gull Point are not seen anywhere else in Pennsylvania.[23] Presque Isle lies on the [Atlantic Flyway](/source/Atlantic_Flyway), a primary migratory path, and some of these birds migrate from as far north as the [Arctic Circle](/source/Arctic_Circle) to South America. They pass through in November on their long flights south and return in April on their flights north.[23]

Erosion and deposition of sand, which have formed Gull Point, continue to change it. From May 1991 to October 2006, Gull Point lost a total of 4.6 acres (1.9 ha), and if this trend continues, it may become an island. After the breakwaters were constructed in 1992, less sand was added to replenish the beaches. Federal funding for sand replenishment has been cut off since 2005, leading to a further reduction in the amount of sand added to the peninsula. Without new sand, erosion has reduced the northern beaches of Gull Point, even as regions to the east and south have continued to grow at a slower rate, resulting in a net yearly loss of 0.4 acres (0.2 ha).[22]

## Tom Ridge Environmental Center

The Tom Ridge Environmental Center is a "green" building.

Main article: [Tom Ridge Environmental Center](/source/Tom_Ridge_Environmental_Center)

The Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) is the gateway to, and administrative center for, Presque Isle State Park, as well as housing interactive educational exhibits, a "Discovery Center", classrooms, and research laboratories. The center, which officially opened on May 26, 2006, is situated on 12 acres (5 ha) acres, just off Route 832 on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie. TREC is named for former Pennsylvania Governor [Tom Ridge](/source/Tom_Ridge), "who grew up in Erie, worked at the park as a young man and provided funding for the center and numerous Presque Isle projects during his administration".[48][49]

Construction on the center began in 2002, although the idea for such a center at Presque Isle was some 50 years old.[48][49] The Presque Isle State Park headquarters began operating from TREC in 2005, and it is also home to offices for the [Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_Environmental_Protection)'s Great Lakes and Coastal Zone Management programs, the DCNR Recreation and Conservation program, as well as Presque Isle [Audubon](/source/National_Audubon_Society), Lake-Erie [Allegheny](/source/Allegheny_River) Earth Force, Pennsylvania Sea Grant, Presque Isle Partnership, and the [Purple Martin](/source/Purple_martin) Conservation Association.[49] The Regional Science Consortium, "a collaborative, non-profit organization that focuses on and coordinates educational and research projects for Lake Erie and the upper Ohio River Basin", was organized in 2002 and is based at TREC.[50] Its 32 member organizations include schools, school districts, colleges, universities, museums, state agencies, conservation groups, and private corporations from Pennsylvania, [Ohio](/source/Ohio), and [Ontario](/source/Ontario).[50]

Facilities at the 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m2) Tom Ridge Environmental Center include eight research laboratories (including several large aquariums) for the RSC, several classrooms, a "Discovery Center" for younger students to explore science hands-on, interpretive exhibits highlighting local and regional [flora](/source/Flora) and [fauna](/source/Fauna), as well as the human history and culture of the area. The center also offers a [large-format](/source/Large-format) movie theater, a smaller theater, a gift shop, a cafeteria, and a 75-foot (23 m) tall observation tower that overlooks Lake Erie. The center was constructed as a "green" building and has received a [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design](/source/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design) (LEED) rating from the [United States Green Building Council](/source/United_States_Green_Building_Council). Besides supporting environmental research and education, the center is meant to "increase off-season use" of the state park.[48][49][51]

## Recreation

A pleasure craft near the North Pier Light

In addition to the facilities at TREC, Presque Isle State Park provides opportunities for daytime recreational activity along the Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay coastlines, as well as on its inland trails and lagoons. Boating, canoeing, fishing, and water skiing are common summer activities, while hiking, biking, inline skating, and bird watching are some of the popular inland activities. Ice fishing, ice boating, ice skating, and cross-country skiing are popular activities for winter visitors. Two of the beaches feature volleyball courts; Beach 6 has six courts and Beach 11 has one. No admission fee is charged for the park or TREC.[52]

Boats of nearly any variety are permitted on Lake Erie at Presque Isle State Park. Boats with [internal combustion engines](/source/Internal_combustion_engine) are prohibited in the interior [lagoons](/source/Lagoon), except for Graveyard Pond, where a concession rents motor and pontoon boats, canoes, and kayaks for recreational use. The park also has a 500-slip [marina](/source/Marina), open to boats up to 42-foot-long (13 m), and five [boat launches](/source/Boat_ramp).[53] Boat tours provide views of the park, lake, bay, and Erie skyline. All boats must have a current registration from any state or country. Water conditions on Lake Erie can change with little notice, so boaters are advised to exercise caution.[52]

A sunset at one of the beaches facing Lake Erie on Presque Isle

[Water skiing](/source/Water_skiing) and [scuba diving](/source/Scuba_diving) are permitted at Presque Isle State Park in designated waters of Lake Erie.[52] Water skiing must take place in Presque Isle Bay or out on Lake Erie and is prohibited within 500 feet (150 m) of the shore. Scuba divers must be certified and are required to register at the park office to obtain information on the waters that are open to diving.[52]

Presque Isle State Park has two distinct [fishing](/source/Fishing) zones. Lake Erie is home to [perch](/source/Perch), [trout](/source/Trout), [walleye](/source/Walleye), [bass](/source/Bass_(fish)), and [steelhead](/source/Rainbow_trout). Presque Isle Bay is the home of [muskellunge](/source/Muskellunge), [northern pike](/source/Northern_pike), [crappie](/source/Crappie), [smelt](/source/Smelt_(fish)), as well as other fish that swim in from the lake.[52] Trout fishing is also allowed in the two waterworks basins, which are [stocked](/source/Fish_stocking) by the [Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission](/source/Pennsylvania_Fish_and_Boat_Commission).[53] Hunting is prohibited at Presque Isle State Park except for controlled [duck](/source/Duck) and [goose](/source/Goose) hunting seasons in designated [blinds](/source/Hunting_blind).[52]

Presque Isle State Park, which has 13 beaches, is home to the only surf swimming in Pennsylvania.[52] Beaches are open from [Memorial Day](/source/Memorial_Day) to [Labor Day](/source/Labor_Day) with swimming permitted when [lifeguards](/source/Lifeguard) are on duty from 10:00 [EDT](/source/Eastern_Time_Zone) to 20:00 EDT.[54] Extensive [picnic](/source/Picnic) facilities are available at most of the swimming areas.[52]

## See also

- [List of National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania](/source/List_of_National_Natural_Landmarks_in_Pennsylvania)

- [Presqu'ile Provincial Park](/source/Presqu'ile_Provincial_Park) in Ontario

Panoramic view of Beach 6 from Lake Erie in Presque Isle State Park

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1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rsc_50-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rsc_50-1) ["Regional Science Consortium at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle"](https://www.regsciconsort.com/). Regional Science Consortium. Retrieved November 20, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-official_trec_51-0)** ["Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071202121416/http://www.trecpi.org/). Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from [the original](http://www.trecpi.org/) on December 2, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pisprecreation_52-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pisprecreation_52-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-pisprecreation_52-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-pisprecreation_52-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-pisprecreation_52-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-pisprecreation_52-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-pisprecreation_52-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-pisprecreation_52-7) ["Presque Isle State Park – Recreational Opportunities"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040212224040/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/presqueisle.aspx#recreation). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/STATEPARKS/parks/presqueisle.aspx#recreation) on February 12, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pfbc_53-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pfbc_53-1) [Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission](/source/Pennsylvania_Fish_and_Boat_Commission) (PFBC). ["2007 PFBC County Maps – Erie County"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080109173257/http://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/county/pfbcmaps/erie.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/county/pfbcmaps/erie.htm) on January 9, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-54)** ["Swimming"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110930030435/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/recreation/swimming/index.htm). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/recreation/swimming/index.htm) on September 30, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2015.

## Sources

- [Bates, Samuel P.](/source/Samuel_Penniman_Bates); Brown, R. C.; Russell, N. W; Weakley, F. E; Whitman, Benjamin (1884). *History of Erie County, Pennsylvania*. [Chicago](/source/Chicago): Warner, Beers & Co. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [8622308](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/8622308).

- Gorecki, Richard J.; Pope, Joan (August 1993). [Coastal Geologic and Engineering History of Presque Isle Peninsula, Pennsylvania](http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a270183.pdf) (PDF) (Report). [Vicksburg, Mississippi](/source/Vicksburg%2C_Mississippi): [United States Army Corps of Engineers](/source/United_States_Army_Corps_of_Engineers), Waterways Experiment Station. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303061241/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a270183.pdf) (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.

- Jennings, Otto Emory (1909). "A Botanical Survey of Presque Isle, Erie County, Pennsylvania". *Annals of the Carnegie Museum*. **5** (2–3). [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh): [Carnegie Museum of Natural History](/source/Carnegie_Museum_of_Natural_History): 289–421. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5962/p.331029](https://doi.org/10.5962%2Fp.331029). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2027/hvd.32044103107710](https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fhvd.32044103107710). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [251479889](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:251479889).

- Cupper, Dan (1993). *Our Priceless Heritage: Pennsylvania's State Parks 1893–1993*. [Harrisburg, Pennsylvania](/source/Harrisburg%2C_Pennsylvania): [Commonwealth of Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), [Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission](/source/Pennsylvania_Historical_and_Museum_Commission) for [Department of Natural Resources](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_Conservation_and_Natural_Resources), Bureau of State Parks. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-89271-056-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-89271-056-X).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Presque Isle State Park](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Presque_Isle_State_Park).

- [Pennsylvania portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Pennsylvania)

- [Presque Isle State Park](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/presque-isle-state-park) Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - ["State park map"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130903094032/http://dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003286.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003286.pdf) (PDF) on September 3, 2013. (459 KB)

- [Presque Isle Partnership](https://www.discoverpi.com/)

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v t e Protected areas of Pennsylvania Federal National Battlefields and Military Parks Fort Necessity Gettysburg National Fish Hatcheries Allegheny National Forests Allegheny National Historic Sites and Historical Parks Allegheny Portage Railroad Edgar Allan Poe Eisenhower First State Friendship Hill Grey Towers Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church Hopewell Furnace Independence Steamtown Valley Forge National Memorials Benjamin Franklin Flight 93 Johnstown Flood Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Monuments Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Recreation Areas Allegheny Delaware Water Gap National Trails Appalachian Lewis and Clark North Country Potomac Heritage National Wild and Scenic Rivers Allegheny River Clarion River Lower Delaware Middle Delaware Upper Delaware National Wildlife Refuge Cherry Valley Erie John Heinz Ohio River Islands Other National Historic Landmarks (Philadelphia) National Natural Landmarks National Register of Historic Places Wilderness Areas State Natural Areas Alan Seeger Algerine Swamp Anders Run Bark Cabin Bear Meadows Bear Run Beartown Woods Big Flat Laurel Black Ash Swamp Bruce Lake Buckhorn Carbaugh Run Charles F. 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Logan Pennel Run Pine Creek Gorge Pine Lake Pine Ridge Pine Tree Trail Reynolds Spring Roaring Run Rocky Ridge Rosecrans Bog Ruth Zimmerman Sheets Island Archipelago Snyder-Middleswarth Spruce Swamp Stillwater Sweet Root Tall Timbers Tamarack Run Tamarack Swamp Torbert Island State Parks Allegheny Islands Archbald Pothole Bald Eagle Beltzville Bendigo Benjamin Rush Big Elk Creek Big Pocono Big Spring Black Moshannon Blue Knob Boyd Big Tree Buchanan's Birthplace Bucktail Caledonia Canoe Creek Chapman Cherry Springs Clear Creek Codorus Colonel Denning Colton Point Cook Forest Cowans Gap Delaware Canal Denton Hill Elk Erie Bluffs Evansburg Fort Washington Fowlers Hollow Frances Slocum French Creek Gifford Pinchot Gouldsboro Greenwood Furnace Hickory Run Hillman Hills Creek Hyner Run Hyner View Jacobsburg Jennings Joseph E. Ibberson Kettle Creek Keystone Kings Gap Kinzua Bridge Kooser Lackawanna Laurel Hill Laurel Mountain Laurel Ridge Laurel Summit Lehigh Gorge Leonard Harrison Linn Run Little Buffalo Little Pine Locust Lake Lyman Run Marsh Creek Maurice K. Goddard McCalls Dam McConnells Mill Memorial Lake Milton Mont Alto Moraine Mt. Pisgah Nescopeck Neshaminy Nockamixon Nolde Forest Norristown Farm Ohiopyle Oil Creek Ole Bull Parker Dam Patterson Penn-Roosevelt Pine Grove Furnace Poe Paddy Poe Valley Point Presque Isle Prince Gallitzin Promised Land Prompton Prouty Place Pymatuning R. B. Winter Raccoon Creek Ralph Stover Ravensburg Reeds Gap Ricketts Glen Ridley Creek Ryerson Station Salt Springs Samuel S. Lewis Sand Bridge Shawnee Shikellamy Simon B. Elliott Sinnemahoning Sizerville Susquehanna Susquehanna Riverlands Susquehannock Swatara Tobyhanna Trough Creek Tuscarora Tyler Upper Pine Bottom Varden Vosburg Neck Warriors Path Washington Crossing Whipple Dam White Clay Creek Worlds End Yellow Creek State Forests Bald Eagle Buchanan Clear Creek Cornplanter Delaware Elk Forbes Gallitzin Loyalsock Michaux Moshannon Pinchot Rothrock Sproul Susquehannock Tiadaghton Tioga Tuscarora Weiser William Penn Scenic Rivers Bear Run French Creek Lehigh River LeTort Spring Run Lick Run Lower Brandywine Octoraro Creek Pine Creek Schuylkill River Stony Creek Tucquan Creek Tulpehocken Creek Yellow Breeches Creek State Game Lands 12 13 14 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 179 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 335 Wild areas Algerine Asaph Burns Run Clear Shade Hammersley James C. Nelson Kettle Creek Russell P. Letterman Martin Hill McIntyre Penns Creek Quebec Run Quehanna Russell P. Letterman Square Timber Stairway Thickhead Mountain Trough Creek Wolf Run Other Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Mohn Mill Ponds Wild Plant Sanctuary Stone Valley Recreation Area Local and private Abernathy Field Station Asbury Woods Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center Boyce Park Nature Center Briar Bush Nature Center Carbon County Environmental Education Center Churchville Nature Center Endless Mountains Nature Center Fern Hollow Nature Center Frick Environmental Center Great Valley Nature Center Harrison Hills Park Environmental Education Center Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center Jarrett Nature Center John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove Lacawac Lancaster Environmental Center Latodami Nature Center at North Park McKaig Nature Education Center McKeever Environmental Learning Center Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center Myrick Conservation Center Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art Nurture Nature Center Peace Valley Nature Center Pocono Environmental Education Center Pool Wildlife Sanctuary Powdermill Nature Reserve Richard Nixon Park Nature Center Riverbend Environmental Education Center Shaver's Creek Environmental Center Silver Lake Nature Center South Park Nature Center Strawberry Hill Nature Center Tom Ridge Environmental Center Trexler Environmental Center Trexler Nature Preserve Tyler Arboretum Welkinweir Whites' Woods Nature Center Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College Woodbourne Forest and Wildlife Preserve Woodcock Creek Nature Center Category Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Philadelphia Pittsburgh Commons

v t e National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania Bear Meadows Natural Area Box Huckleberry Site Cook Forest State Park Ferncliff Peninsula Natural Area Ferncliff Wildflower and Wildlife Preserve Florence Jones Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary Pine Creek Gorge Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hearts Content Scenic Area Hemlocks Natural Area Hickory Run Boulder Field Lake Lacawac McConnells Mill State Park Monroe Border Fault Nay Aug Park Gorge and Waterfall Nottingham Park Serpentine Barrens Presque Isle State Park Reynolds Spring and Algerine Swamp Bogs The Glens Natural Area Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area Susquehanna Water Gaps Tamarack Swamp Tannersville Cranberry Bog John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas Titus and Wattsburg Bogs Wissahickon Valley List of National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania

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v t e Lake Erie Islands Michigan Gard Island Indian Island Turtle Island (MI / OH) Ontario Big Chicken Island Chick Island East Sister Island Hen Island Little Chicken Island Middle Island Middle Sister Island Mohawk Island North Harbour Island Pelee Island Ryerson's Island Second Island Snow Island Ohio Ballast Island Buckeye Island Catawba Island Gibraltar Island Green Island Gull Island Johnson's Island Kafralu Island Kelleys Island Lost Ballast Island Middle Bass Island Mouse Island North Bass Island Rattlesnake Island South Bass Island Starve Island Sugar Island Turtle Island (MI / OH) West Sister Island Pennsylvania Presque Island New York Bird Island

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Presque Isle State Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presque_Isle_State_Park) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presque_Isle_State_Park?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.