Sister Island Lighthouse

By Susan G Mathis

Sometimes called the Three Sister Islands Lighthouse, Sister Island Lighthouse sits on a collection of three tiny islands along the St. Lawrence River. The three islands were originally connected via wooden bridges, which have since been upgraded to concrete breakwalls.

Sister Island Lighthouse is just south of the international border, along the shipping channel of the St. Lawrence Seaway located about six miles northeast of Alexandria Bay, New York, and about 1200 feet south of (Canadian) Grenadier Island. From the island you could actually swim to Canada if you wanted to.

Vessels have been sailing the St. Lawrence River as early as the mid-1500s, but navigation was difficult due to many submerged rocks and shoals. The lighthouse It marks a particularly treacherous spot in the channel that passed on the Canadian side of the island, but shortly after it was commissioned, the shipping channel was relocated to the American side of the channel. That meant that a new shipping channel had to be blasted out of the rocky river bed.

Today, Sister Island Lighthouse is a private island accessible only by boat, which adds to its allure. Guided boat tours from nearby towns like Clayton or Alexandria Bay pass by it, providing a scenic journey through the stunning Thousand Islands archipelago. While the lighthouse is not open for tours, visitors can admire its historic architecture and capture incredible photographs from the exterior. Julia’s Joy, set on the island, will take you inside the lighthouse and give a glimpse of what it’s like to live on such a remote island.

Sister Island Lighthouse is a hidden treasure in the Thousand Islands, offering a fascinating glimpse into maritime history amidst breathtaking natural beauty. Whether you’re captivated by the lighthouse’s storied past, eager to explore the surrounding wilderness, or simply seeking a peaceful day on the St. Lawrence River, the story of Sister Island promises to be memorable.

Have you been to on a Thousand Islands boat tour? Leave your answer or comments on the post below and join me on November 19th for my next post.

ABOUT JULIA'S JOY

Book 2 of the Love in a Lighthouse series:

When Julia Collins reluctantly sets foot on Sister Island, compelled by her grandmother’s will, she is intent on claiming her inheritance and moving on. But when she experiences the faith-filled island life and connects with the handsome lightkeeper, William, Julia finds herself confronting her open wounds from her parents’ deaths. Between a past betrayal and his chronic pleurisy, William Dodge, lightkeeper of Sister Island, wants nothing to do with love. But Julia turns his world upside down. But just as love begins to blossom between them, Julia is faced with a tempting proposal from a prominent Brockville family. Will she succumb to societal expectations or choose the richness of her island life and the love of the steadfast lightkeeper?

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has thirteen in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.