On August 17, 1889, the A.E. Vickery, a wooden three-masted schooner on its way to deliver 21,000 bushels of corn to Wiser’s Distillery, was cruising up the St Lawrence River when it struck a shoal in the American Narrows and sank. The boat is still at the bottom of the river.
This is just one of the many tales you might hear on this exciting 3-hour boat cruise along the Thousand Islands section of the St Lawrence River. Make your way to the dock in Clayton, board the Night Heron and prepare to be dazzled by the boat’s glass bottom, which gives you a peek into the underwater life of the river. An expert local guide, who knows the natural and cultural history of the area, narrates as you cruise along. You might see bass, pike, panfish and yellow perch.
Disembark on Rock Island to explore the historic Rock Island Lighthouse. The 50-foot (15-meter) lighthouse was one of six that guided boats through the Thousand Islands section of the river. Commissioned in 1847, today it’s a landmark. Ascend the lighthouse to visit the former light keeper’s quarters, now a museum dedicated to the structure. There are other buildings on the island to discover as well ─ in the
adjacent building, the keeper made oil for the lighthouse out of whale
fat.
After an hour or so, get back on the boat and enjoy the natural beauty of the Thousand Islands as you head back to Clayton.
