 The recorded history of Presque Isle begins with the Erielhonan , a Native American tribe who gave their name to Lake Erie , and includes French , British , and American forts , as well as serving as a base for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 's fleet in the War of 1812 . With the growing importance of shipping on Lake Erie in the 19th century , Presque Isle became home to several lighthouses and what became a 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 . 
