Miller Ferry Photo Honored in Ohio America 250 Contest, Capturing an Unforgettable Put-in-Bay Moment

One photograph has captured more than just a ferry—it has captured a moment in Put-in-Bay history.

Miller Ferry has been recognized as one of the winners of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission’s America 250-Ohio Photo Contest: Celebrating Lake Erie’s Legacy, honoring an image that perfectly blends the island’s rich maritime history with its future.

The award-winning photograph, titled “Old Meets New,” was taken during the christening ceremony of the M/V Mary Ann Market in September 2022. As family, friends, island residents, and community members gathered on South Bass Island to celebrate the arrival of Miller Ferry’s newest vessel, the historic Tin Goose flew overhead, creating a memorable scene that photographer Greg Peiffer captured at exactly the right moment.

The image showcases the newest addition to the Miller Ferry fleet beneath one of aviation’s most recognizable vintage aircraft—a fitting representation of Lake Erie’s long history of transportation, innovation, and community.

A New Chapter for Miller Ferry

The M/V Mary Ann Market is more than just another ferry.

At 140 feet long, it is the largest vessel ever built for Miller Ferry and can carry approximately 600 passengers and up to 28 vehicles between Catawba Island, Put-in-Bay, and Middle Bass Island. The ferry was designed with improved passenger comfort, expanded accessibility, enhanced fuel efficiency, and greater maneuverability to serve residents and visitors for decades to come.

Completed at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Wisconsin, the vessel arrived at its new home in Put-in-Bay during the summer of 2022 before officially being christened that September.

The ferry is named in honor of Mary Ann Market (1935–2010), the longtime island resident and family matriarch whose dedication helped shape Miller Ferry into the operation it is today.

More Than a Century of Service

Miller Ferry has been connecting Ohio’s Lake Erie Islands with the mainland for generations.

The company traces its roots back to 1905, when it began as an ice harvesting, fishing charter, and water taxi business in Put-in-Bay Harbor. In 1978, William “Bill” Market and his wife, Mary Ann, purchased the company from the Miller family but intentionally retained the Miller name as a tribute to the business’s founders. Today, the company remains family owned and operated, continuing a tradition of serving Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island.

For many island residents and frequent visitors, Miller Ferry represents much more than transportation—it’s an essential part of everyday life and one of the most recognizable symbols of travel to Put-in-Bay.

Capturing Lake Erie’s Legacy

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission’s America 250 Photo Contest celebrates images that showcase the people, places, history, and experiences that define Lake Erie as the nation prepares for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Greg Peiffer’s award-winning photograph does exactly that.

With the historic Tin Goose soaring overhead while the newest ferry in the Miller fleet sits dockside surrounded by members of the Put-in-Bay community, the image tells a story that spans generations. It captures a single moment where history, tradition, and the future of island transportation all came together.

Congratulations to Miller Ferry and photographer Greg Peiffer on receiving this well-deserved recognition while showcasing one of Put-in-Bay’s most memorable moments.