History Boat Tour Information:
2025 Schedule
June 11 First tour of season is always a Wildlife Tour. Join us as we journey through the islands looking for the animals that call the river home. From terns and herons to loons and baby eagles, this tour is always a wonderful way to start our season. The cost is $46 per person.
June 18 Once again we will head to Carleton Island with Dennis McCarthy, Director of the St. Lawrence River Historical Foundation joining to pass on his vast knowledge of the island and its history. This popular tour is requested every season. This tour will leave at 5:00 and the boat includes a fully licensed bar. Cost is $50 per person.
June 25 This unique tour, limited to only 20 people, will take us to Grindstone Island where we will embark on a 3-hour bus tour of the interior of the island. From Dodge Hall to the church, from the Heritage Center, located in the upper schoolhouse, to the old cheese factory, from the new museum located in the lower schoolhouse to the Grindstone Island Winery where we will enjoy some River Rat cheese. This tour leaves Clayton Island Tours at 4:30. Cost is $55 per person
July 2 We will be touring the sites of the Gilded Age Historic Island Hotels. The Cliff House, Murray Hill Hotel, Hub House, The Round Island House which became the Hotel Frontenac and then the New Frontenac Hotel, the Pullman House, the TI Park Hotel, the Columbian, the Grand View House and the Fine View House. Learn the history of these beautiful hotels that once graced the islands. There will be a handout at the end of the tour with pictures and information on the hotels. The boat has a fully licensed bar. Tickets are $46 per person.
July 9 This will be our second trip to the Summerland group of islands. This group includes Sport, Summerland, Ina, Hadassah and Sylvan Island just to name a few. One of the islands was owned by the second richest woman in the world, second only to Queen Victoria. Come along with us and learn the story of what she had to do to inherit her wealth. The boat has a fully licensed bar. Tickets are $46 per person.
July 16 Heading to a private island once owned by Charles G. Emery, our visit to Calumet is always a joy. Calumet Island once housed Mr. Emery’s summer home Calumet Castle. The island tour will be led by Mike Strouse, a long-time caretaker of this beautiful island. He will share stories of Mr. Emery and his castle. This tour includes a hot dog cookout with all the fixings. Ticket price is $50 per person.
July 23 New this year is a Ghost Tour. Join us when Tanya Roy of the Butler Did It Players chills us with ghostly tales as we pass through the islands. Spend 2 hours on the St. Lawrence River learning new haunted history about some of the river’s best known islands. From shipwrecks to drownings and unexplained disappearances, the River hosts as many unexplained happenings as it does islands. Come along on this tour and you will never look at the river quite the same again. Tickets are $56 per person.
July 30 This will be our annual trip to Chery Island to visit Casa Blanca. Entering this beautiful Victorian mansion is like taking a step back in time. When you walk through the doors, you will see things as they were over 100 years ago from a player piano to a beautiful dining room. See the difference in how the servants lived on the third floor as compared to the family areas on the first two floors. You will also be able to tour the laundry building, the boat house and the grounds of the mansion. The owner of this wonderful summer home will be providing cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the veranda. This tour sells out quickly, usually before the end of May. There is a fully licensed bar on the boat. Tickets are $46 per person.
August 6 This very special tour sees us joined by Archaeologist Kenneth Knapp who will be presenting a program entitled “12,000 Years of a River and its First People” You will be amazed by the multitude of information he passes along about the formation of the river and his knowledge of the first people who called it home. Boat has a fully licensed bar. Tickets are $46 per person.
Aug. 13 We will be going to Historic Grenell Island this year. While other islands were developed by corporations, Grenell Island Park was a mom-and-pop affair. On this tour you will learn about the island’s founders Sam and Lucy Grenell, visit the 1934 Grenell Island Community House, peek inside the Grenell Island Post Office, which was established in 1891 and is still a working seasonal post office, and marvel at the 1898 Grenell Island Chapel. Grenell Island serves as the nucleus for the Thousand Islands Series, which allows readers to experience Thousand Island history one decade at a time. For those interested in learning more about Grenell as portrayed in the book series, author Lynn McElfresh will give a special “book tour.” (limited to the first 20 who sign up). Books and Grenell Island items will be available for purchase. Lynn will be available to autograph books. This tour is not wheelchair or walker accessible. The boat has a fully licensed bar. Tickets are $46 per person.
Aug. 20 Join us as we head to Morgan Island to enjoy a Traditional Shore Dinner put on by a local fishing guide. You will be served the meal that has been a staple of fishing guides for over 150 years. From the appetizer to the fish caught in the St. Lawrence River to the dessert, everything is delicious. The boat leaves at 4:30 as the trip to Morgan Island takes about an hour during which you can enjoy the beautiful scenery as we pass through the islands. There is a fully licensed bar on the boat. The cost of the trip and dinner is $90 per person.
Aug. 27 For the first time we will be heading to Heart Island and Boldt Castle where we will be meeting the master gardener in charge of the beautiful flowers on the island. He will be doing a Garden Tour of the grounds of the castle passing on his vast knowledge of the plants and flowers which grace the island now and what would have been used in Boldt’s time. The boat will be leaving Clayton Island Tours dock at 3:30 as it takes about an hour to reach the castle. We can enjoy the grounds until their closing time of 6:30. Ticket price includes admission to the castle if you are so inclined. Tickets are $70 per person.
Sept. 3 We will be heading into Canadian waters as we head toward Ivy Lea. Passing Grindstone; we will head for the Gananoque Narrows and then on to Ivy Lea. We will return to Clayton through Smuggler’s Cove, the Lost Channel and Benson’s Rift. No alcohol is allowed on this cruise as we are in Canadian waters. The boat will leave at 4:30. Ticket cost is $46 per person.
Sept. 10 Our final tour will again take us into Canadian waters with a tour through the Admiralty Islands. The popular tour goes by Hay Island, site of an unusual reference to Napoleon. You will learn the significance of Half Moon Bay as we visit there. We will also see a unique cable ferry among other sights. No alcohol is allowed on this cruise as we will be in Canadian waters. The tour leaves at 4:30. Ticket cost is $46 per person.
Reservations are required and can be made by calling the museum at (315) 686-5794. We accept VISA and MasterCard. Get your tickets early as tours sell out quickly. If you are unable to use your tickets and notify us 48 hours before the tour, your money will be refunded.
History at Noon – held at the TI Museum – Schedule will be released in Late Spring 2025
ANNUAL ROAST PORK DINNER – Join us Friday, November 7, 2025 at the American Legion Post 821 in Clayton for our annual Roast Pork Dinner. $15.00 per Adult, $10.00 per child. Take out starts at 4:30 PM, Seating begins at 5:00 PM. Tickets AT THE DOOR.
AANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES
ANNUAL JURIED CRAFT SHOW – Saturday, December 5, 2025 from 10:00 until 4:00 – held at the Clayton Municipal Building at 425 Mary Street, Clayton NY.. Beautiful items available for everyone on your gift list.
