The first natural lands the Museum owned were on Kelleys Island, long before the Museum established its Natural Areas Program. The Museum was instrumental in ensuring that the Glacial Grooves and Inscription Rock—both significant historical and geological sites on the island—were protected. (Both are now managed by Ohio History Connection.)
The habitat on Kelleys Island is unique in northern Ohio. Many species that thrive on the limestone-based island don’t occur in the Cleveland area. Several rare plants occur on the Museum’s 10 island preserves. The Scheele Preserve protects one of five occurrences of rock elm in Ohio, and Jones Preserve on Long Point is home to the Lake Erie watersnake (Nerodia sipedon insularum), a recently de-listed federally endangered species. The island is a vital stopover site for migratory birds crossing Lake Erie. For nearly 30 years, certified bird bander and Museum Research Associate Tom Bartlett, his wife, Paula, and other volunteers have mist-netted and banded thousands of birds at Museum preserves on the island.
Scheele Preserve
The Museum’s 10 nature preserves on Kelleys Island make up more than a quarter of all protected land on the island. Of these, Scheele Preserve, named in honor of former Museum Director William Scheele, is open to the public. A small parking area leads to a trail that winds through juniper meadow and swamp forest before arriving, splendidly, at a cobble-strewn Lake Erie beach.
Scheele Preserve is a stop on the Lake Erie Birding Trail.
Directions
Follow Ohio Route 2 west of Cleveland to Route 269 north. Proceed north on Route 269 to Route 163 east. Follow Route 163 east into Marblehead. The Kelleys Island ferry boat line is located at 510 W. Main Street (across from the police department and fire station). Scheele Preserve is located off Monagan Road on Kelleys Island.
