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To download a Thousand Islands PDF brochure, click here.
At the entrance to the Great Lakes, the
First Nations called this bountiful region of islands, meadows, marshland
and forest the Garden of the Great Spirit. Formed as a result of a geological
anomaly, the islands are founded on a narrow isthmus of the same pink
granite that forms the Canadian Shield to the North and the Appalachians
to the south. West at Kingston the country is limestone, while east at
Brockville it is sandstone. Without this hard rock barrier, the St. Lawrence
River might have carved a gorge and cataract similar to that at Niagara,
rather than the tempting archipelago you cruise through today.
The border between the US and Canada meanders through the islands, and
as befits a region with strong bi-national links, the soaring and graceful
1000 Islands bridge was built as a joint project between the two nations.
Completed in 1938, it was opened by William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime
Minister of Canada, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United
States.
Just 21 years later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and H.M. Queen Elizabeth
II opened another bi-national enterprise that materially affected the
region - the St. Lawrence Seaway.
To
visit the Thousand Islands Homepage Click Here
RECREATION
As befits a bi-national region, there is a wealth of opportunities on
both sides of the border, but where better to start than on the river
itself. The real stars are the nearly 1,900 islands and more particularly
the group known as "Millionaires' Row". These were the islands where the
rich and famous built summer homes in the early part of the 20th century.
Perhaps the most famous is Boldt Castle, commenced in 1900 by George C.
Boldt, the owner of the sumptuous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, for
his wife Louise. Construction of the 120 room mansion was abandoned four
years later when his wife died unexpectedly. The castle remained vacant
until 1977 when restoration was commenced, and today you can visit the
castle and visualize life as it was in the early 1900s.
Wellesley Island on the US side of the river houses the Mina Anthony
Common Nature Preserve with 10 miles of hiking trails. Also on the island
is the 1000 Islands Park, with an original Victorian summer community
of delightful and whimsical summer homes, many still in family ownership
since their construction.
At the centre of it all, on Hill Island, is the 1000 Islands Skydeck.
At over 400' above river level the three observation decks provide magnificent
views across the river and the islands. Across another span of the bridge
is the 22 mile long 1000 Islands Parkway that connects Gananoque and Brockville,
with great views for cyclists, pedestrians and rollerbladers, as well
as motorists.
REGIONAL HISTORY
As with many parts of the Great Lakes, history combines early French influences
with later battles between Britain and the USA. French influence, despite
an early visit by Samuel de Champlain in 1615 to what is now Kingston,
is centred around the Cape Vincent area where Jesuit missionaries established
a presence among the Onandaga in 1655. Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's lesser
known brother, built the Cup and Saucer House in 1817 as a possible refuge
for Napoleon. However, after the British exiled Napoleon to St. Helena
in 1815, it was, perhaps, wishful thinking that they would allow so dynamic
a personality to take up residence in a country where they had only just
(1814) signed a peace treaty. The house eventually burned in 1867, and
the area's French connection is celebrated today in an annual festival
held on Bastille Day.
Sacketts Harbor was the scene, on May 29 &30, 1912 of one of the defining
battles of the War of 1812 when British schooners attached the town and
Fort Tompkins. The US defenders refused to surrender and the British fleet
sailed away fearing the arrival of US reinforcements.
Earlier, during the War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists
moved north to Canada and established new towns and homes on the north
shore of the St. Lawrence. Gananoque, founded in 1792, owes its origins
to these refugees, as does Brockville with its classic New England Court
House Square.
1000 Island Vignettes
Kingston was at one time the capital of both Upper and Lower Canada,
and the Limestone City still retains its stately public buildings and
pleasing streetscapes from nearly 200 years ago. The undoubted shopping
and entertainment centre of the region, there are a dozen theatre companies
and entertainment opportunities.
Overlooking Kingston is massive Fort Henry. Built in 1837 it was one
of the last forts constructed to protect the British Dominion of Canada.
Watertown, in New York State, at one time had more millionaires
per capita than any other city in the nation. This wealth is evidenced
today by the many stately mansions and dignified public buildings that
remain. The Jefferson county fair which is still celebrated today, was
where, in 1878 F.W. Woolworth tested the idea of fixed price merchandise
in a department store. The rest, as it is said, is history.
Brockville is the eastern gateway to the 1000 Islands and is perhaps
best known as the home of Canadian Senator George T. Fulford who made
his fortune on that cure-all remedy "Pink Pills for Pale People". His
opulent mansion is a testament to the popularity of the pills.
Clayton, founded in 1822 on shipbuilding and lumber, has a downtown
core that contains a remarkable collection of late 19th and early 20th
century commercial buildings that have been designated as a national historical
district. Once a regular port of call for Great Lakes cruise ships, Clayton
has an internationally important collection of working vintage boats at
the Antique Boat Museum. What better way to arrive at Boldt Castle than
in a 40' antique cruiser?
Gananoque is home to the 1000 Islands Village and Heritage Centre,
whose wide porches and rolling lawns overlook the river and the 1000 Islands.
Also on the waterfront is the acclaimed Thousand Islands Playhouse. In
the Gardens at Landon Bay one can retreat into a landscape of fields,
forests and marshland, or stroll through 35 themed gardens, including
one designed to attract butterflies.
Alexandria Bay, where there is always something happening, is
the US centre for cruising along Millionaires' Row. On land the town is
also home to Mazeland, the largest garden labyrinth in North America,
with English hedge and fabric mazes for your puzzlement.
SPORTS
The 1000 Islands is the place to fish for trophy size lake trout, king
salmon, walleye, muskellunge, northern pike and bass. However, if you
prefer to eat what you catch, the local tradition is the "Shore Dinner"
where the charter captain brings all the fixings and prepares the catch
for the freshest fish you are ever likely to taste at a shoreside banquet.
For sports on land, there is horseback riding at Chaumont on a private
4,000 estate just 10 miles from Clayton, or there is golf. There are three
great courses right on Wellesley Island, and more than 20 courses in the
1000 Islands area, not including 4 miniature golf courses in Alexandria
Bay and Watertown.
THE DETAILS
At present calls for most ships in the 1000 Islands area will need to
be at anchor. Clayton is considering rebuilding its cruise dock, and Kingston
can accommodate smaller vessels with shallow draft.
Call: Gary DeYoung
Director of Tourism
Thousand Islands Regional Tourism Development
PO Box 69
Lansdowne, ON
KOE 1LO
Tel: 315 482 2520
Fax: 315 482 5906
Internet: www.visit1000islands.com
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