Never imbued with a cult of wilderness like the nearby Adirondack mountains, the Thousand Islands since the mid-nineteenth century have been a very sociable place that featured collective community activities--regattas, races, festivals.

John Schuck photograph.

Balloon ascensions marked celebrations such as opening of the grand hotels of the 1870s. Balloons continue to enliven the scene, providing scenic adventures for passengers.

Spectacles likewise continue to be crowd pleasers. Fort Henry offers colorful military pageants. A highlight of the season there is the annual evening performance by the Kingston symphony of the 1812 Overture, accompanied by canon fire as well as fire works.

Courtesy Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO).

Fort Henry offers regular tours of the facility, well interpreted to convey historic military life there. The Fort Henry Guard, comprised of student volunteers, mostly from Queen's University, wear mid-nineteenth century British uniforms and provide an authentic military presence and crack drill performances at regular Sunset Ceremonies.

Photographer unidentified.

Fort Henry gallery. Ken Kirk photograph.

Various special programs are geared to different groups of visitors. Lunch is available regularly. Dinner service is available by reservation for groups.

Officers' Kitchen, Ft. Henry

Officer's Quarters, Ft. Henry. Ken Kirk photograph.

Theatre flourishes on the north shore, where Kingston, Gananoque, and Brockville all have regular seasons of performances. The Thousand Islands Playhouse at Gananoque is on the water. Dinner cruises from Kingston deliver theatre goers to the door.

Photo courtesy Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises

Founded by Artistic Director, Greg Wanless, more than a quarter century ago, the Thousand Islands Playhouse at Gananoque now offers a full summer season of performances at two theatres.

The Music Man, 2004

The Brockville Arts Centre now flourishes in a renovated movie house, attracting stellar performers such as Harry Connick, Jr.

Harry Connick, Jr. at the Brockville Arts Centre. Glyn Davies photograph.

Several renovations of Kingston's historic Grand Theatre have adapted it as the major performing arts facility of the city. Development in 1984 of an exterior pedestrian court and walkway received a Liveable City Design Award. In 2000 the lobby was renovated and a major campaign in 2005 improved the front and back of the house.

Architects' presentation of renovated Grand Theater design, Kingston. Diamond/Schmitt Architects, courtesy Grand Theatre.

Several companies, such as the Domino Theatre and Theatre 5, and venues, such as the Tett Creativity Centre, offer varied theatrical fare in Kingston.

The Clayton Opera House is being restored as a performance space, enabled by more than a million dollars in gifts and pledges, to be applied against matching grants from government and foundations. The goal of 2.5 million dollars seems to be within sight. Summer programs of presentations continue here during the development of the facility.

Clayton Opera House. Frank T. Lent, architect, 1904, from a postcard.

The major entertainment on the river has always been the river itself. Large excursion steamboats began scheduled trips in the late nineteenth century, with the guided sightseeing tour evolving as a facet of the steamboat businness. Today steamboats no longer connect river ports as functional transit, but scenic boat tours continue as a major industray locally, and a major form of visitor entertainment.

Island Queen in Wanderers' Channel, Admiralty Group

Paul Malo photograph.

Because the Thousand Islands section of the St. Lawrence River extends some fifty miles, Island tours from different ports generally cover different sections. Repeat visitors may find rewarding boat tours from different points, not merely for scenic coverage, but for manner and quality of the guide. Whereas some large boat lines have recorded commentary, and others have inexperienced young announcers, a few have seasoned river captains commenting on the passing scene from the wheel of a small, perhaps antique, boat. Captain Paul, guiding visitors from the picturesque hamlet of Rockport, is such an old river hand. Rockport, on the north shore, offers attractive waterside dining and a convenient shuttle to Boldt Castle.

Bellevue House, Kingston, courtesy Ontario Architectural Styles

Historic sites and house museums offer informative as well as entertaining fare. "Bellevue," the Kingston home of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, has been called "one of the most spectacular Itallian Villas in Ontario, indeed in the world." A national historic site, Bellevue House is a romantic house of the Italian Villa style, built in the early 1840s by a Kingston grocer. Considered eccentric, the neighbors referred to his house jocularly as "Pekoe Pagoda" and "Tea Caddy Castle." Parks Canada provides a visitor orientation facility and costumed guides inform visitors. A period garden is feature of the site.

Fulford library, courtesy Ontario Heritage Foundation

The most sumptuous interiors of the region may be seen at Fulford Place, Brockville. The Edwardian mansion reflects the lavish life style of the period, at least of newly wealthy businessmen. George Fulford is remembered by his catchy motto for his product, "Pink Pills for Pale People." The Ontario Heritage Foundation offers a program of events at Fulford Place, otherwise open to the public regularly.

Fulford Place, Brockville, courtesy Ontario Heritage Foundation

Photograph Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art

Grounds of Fulford Place were designed by Olmsted, America's leading landscape architect of the time, remembered for Central Park in New York City as well as many college campuses and grand country estates.

Boldt Castle. Brigette photograph.

Boldt Castle detail. Hao Sun photograph.

The iconic landmark of the Thousand Islands is Boldt Castle, known to millions of visitors. Its history is related on a large website and in several publications, the most complete being Paul Malo's Boldt Castle: In Search of the Lost Story.

Linda Russ photograph.

Altlhough Boldt Castle was abandoned before completion, woodwork found crated in a closed wing has been installed. Interiors are being finished conjecturally.

Alster Tower. Photographer unidentified.

In addition to Boldt Castle, Heart Island offers visitors other fantastic buildings, the most remarkable being the Alster Tower, currently being restored

Alster Tower. Linda Russ photograph.

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Dark Island. Eve Lamb photograph.

Dark Island. Rebecca Adams photograph.

The "castles" of the Thousand Islands have long attracted many visitors. The landmark stone home built by Frederick Bourne on Dark Island remained a private residence until recently opened to the public. It retains many of furnishings sok like Fulford Place, conveys a period life style. Originally called "The Towers", it has been renamed "Singer Castle." Bourne's immense fortune derived from the Singer sewing machine.

Dark Island china. Eve Lamb photograph.

Dark Island. Ian Coristine / 1000 Islands Photo Art

Kingston's "Haunted Walks" are memorable ways to experience the city's heritage.

"Haunted Walk," photogrraph coutresy Haunted Walks, Inc.

A distinctive feature of Thousand Islands life for more than a century, regular Sunday religious services at Half Moon Bay attract a capacity congregation.

Half Moon Bay. Robert Charron photograph.

Another favored boaters' redezvous: Potter's Beach on Grindstone Island:

Potter's Beach, Grindstone Island. Photographer unidentified.

Closer to the Bay, the Lake of the Isles is where they make the scene:

Lake of the Isles, Wellesley Island.. Photographer unidentified.

Off the beaten path, some boaters favor Wolfe Island's Big Sandy, but with a sharp weather eye due to open lake exposure.

Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island. Photographer unidentified.

We have many small places of interest, some not widely known. The New York State Fish Research Center in a historic grist mill building at Cape Vincent offers visitors an aquarium display of live fish of the region.

New York State Fish Research Center, Cape Vincent. Linda Russ photograph.

The MacLachlan Woodworking Museum features the largest collection of early woodworking tools in North America. As noted by Gary Paul Lehman in the Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., there are "five thousand tools from the woodworking trades, including barrelmaking, carriage and wagonmaking, splint weaving, basketmaking, blacksmithing, logging, saw milling, lumbering, barn and house construction, and even clogmaking."

Woodworking Museum. J. D. Quail photograph.

The Woodworking Museum east of Kingston, with it's landmark log cabin built about 1853, is not merely a place for scholarly antiquarians, but is noted for its varied activities for children. Adjoining Grass Creek Park provides an attractive place for family outings.

The Royal Military College Museum at Kingston informs visitors about the military history of the site, augmented by the Douglas Arms Collection (examples below) and other historic artifacts.

Boutet Flintlock Pistols , French, (circa 1800-1802).

Rifle, Evans New Model Carbine, Maine, (circa 1877).

Beecher House, courtesy Brockville Museum

The Brockville Museum occupies a historic stone house in that city's downtown core. Isaac Beecher built tne landmark about 1820. Changing exhibits convey the story of settlement in this community as well as the Thousand Islands region more generally. There is a Children's Room and the transporation exhibits should please children as well as adults.

The Kingston Archeological Centre offers exhibits about fascinating local digs, interpreting artifacts with information about the local history.

Fort Frontenac

Fort. Frontenac

The Kingston Archeological Centre also informs visitors about one of the regions most memorable historical figures, Molly Brant, providing an excellent article on line.

Photo courtesy Arthur Child Heritage Museum of the 1000 Islands.

Heritage Village on the Gananoque waterfront provides a regional museum and several shops and refreshment facilities in a park-like setting.

Kingston's Murney Tower contains Bloomfield cannon, carronades and domestic artifacts that tell the story of soldiers and families who lived inside.

Murney Tower, Kingston. Photograph by Jennifer McKenrdry courtesy Kingston Historical Society

One of Kingston's six Martello Towers, the Murney Tower, a National Historic Site, is operated by the Kingston Historical Society.

The Thousand Islands Museum at Clayton offers regional history exhibits and a fine research facility. The Museum also hosts annual events of note.

Courtesy Thousand Islands Museum, Clayton

Clayton's Antique Boat Musem is the premier museum of the region and a major attraction for visitors.

Antique Boat Museum, Clayton, Bill John photograph.

Antique Boat Mseum, courtesy North Country Public Radio

In addition to exhibits, the museum offers boat rides and programs of activities for children as well as adults. The Annual Boat Show and Auction on the first weekend of August is a high point of the season on the river.

Dave Marshall photograph

Photograph courtesy Antique Boat Museum.

Go-carting. Photographer unidentified.

Island weddings more likely are casual than formal.

Tom Weldon photograph.

Many folks find it hard to leave thier islands, finding simple pleasures the best entertainment.

Croquet. Tricia Tague photograph.

Winter transforms the river into a place unknown to most summer visitors.

Courtesy Glen House Resort

Courtesy Robert J. Hunt

Tracks on the ice suggest recent skiers' experience of the serence grandeur of the river in winter.

Shawn Roes photograph.

Although many other forms of entertainment are pursued here, as suggested by the sections, On the Water and Sporting Life, certainly the major pastime for visitors--and probably the major industry of the region--remains the boat tour of the Thousand Islands.

Courtesy Ontario Tourism Network

For residents, however, "the best things in life are free."

Kristen Pinkney Bregani photograph.

The sun is over the yardarm at Granny Hill:

Granny Hill. Gina L. Bregani photograph.

Granny Hill, originally called "Wawbeek," is one of several historic landmarks featured in A Floating World, the third volume, of Paul Malo's Thousand Islands trilogy.

Granny Hill. Gina L. Bregani photograph.

Budding naturalists, Calico Cat B&B, Brockville. Anna Kiff, photographer.

[More to come].

Pastimes: On the Water, Sporting Life, Golf, Dining, Entertainment, Shopping