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The Thousand Islands Village of Clayton Celebrates 150 Years

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2022-04-02 20:53:00

Situated on the beautiful St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands  region, the small village of Clayton delivers a large array of activities and events. People flock here for the fishing, the river tours, the resorts, the cottages, the golfing, the shopping, the restaurants, the gorgeous sunsets, and so much more. A cultural center of the Thousand Islands region, Clayton  is proud of its heritage—and it will celebrate that heritage throughout 2022, during the village’s year-long 150th anniversary Sesquicentennial Celebration, commemorating the its incorporation in 1872.

Several special highlights are in store of the sesquicentennial year. The Clayton Village Historic Walking Tour map was revised specifically for 2022, so visitors can take in Clayton’s history and architecture at their own pace while strolling through this charming village. Green circles will be displayed in the windows of homes and businesses to indicate the year the building was built, and there will be story boards on display with historic photos and information. Guided walking tours, and even ghost tours, will also be offered throughout the summer.

Monthly lectures at the historic Clayton Opera House  help teach locals and visitors alike about the village’s rich past, and the village’s religious communities will come together for bell ringing and celebratory events throughout the season, including two cemetery tours highlighting past village leaders and a Clayton Village Incorporation Reenactment event, which will be held on August 13 under the pavilion at Clayton’s Frink Park.

But Clayton’s history is something to be celebrated and explored even outside of a special anniversary year. From early timber harvesting, to ship building, to becoming a gilded age tourism hotspot for the rich and famous, to snowplow and swimming suit factories, to the tourism of today, it’s an integral part of the Thousand Islands’ past, present and future. The village is home to several museums and a historic opera house that all warrant a visit while you’re here.

The Clayton Opera House  is a historic gem that’s been renovated and revitalized as a venue for entertainment and community events, with offerings ranging from local fundraising events to regional and nationally-known entertainers. The Thousand Islands Arts Center  focuses on the history, preservation, appreciation and application of the arts in the region, with rotating and permanent exhibits; it is also home to the American Handweaving Museum, which boats one of the most extensive and impressive collections of handmade textiles in the country. The Antique Boat Museum  is home to an extensive collection of classic wooden boats, which have played an integral role in river life throughout the years. The Thousand Islands Museum  offers exhibits on many of the cornerstones of River living throughout the years, with a rotating list of exhibits that tell the region’s story, including the Muskie Hall of Fame. Just be sure to check hours before you go, since some of the local museums are only open for part of the year!
 
For more details on Clayton’s sesquicentennial events, visit the Facebook page, Village of Clayton’s 150^th Celebration, and the village’s official sesquicentennial website. More information on Clayton in general, including information on annual events, can be found on Clayton’s website.
 
PHOTO CREDITS
Clayton waterfront with chairs photo credit Clayton Chamber of Commerce
Antique boat at sunset photo credit Clayton Chamber of Commerce
Thousand Islands Museum sign photo credit Thousand Islands Museum
Clayton aerial view photo credit Clayton Chamber of Commerce
 

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