We spent some time looking at the historical aspects of the 1000 Islands, beginning at Prescott and the Johnstow- Ogdensburg International Bridge,since this is where the St Larwence river played an important part in Canada's early history.

We begin this part of our guide at the bridge, running from Johnstown on the Canadian shore to Ogdensburg on the USA shore of the river.

The town of Johnstown is marked by a large grain elevator on the north shore perhaps 0.5 km west of the bridge itself. The Bridgeview Marina and Restaurant is tucked into a shallow cove to the north of the grain elevator and is approached via a marked channel. Visitors would do well to pay heed to this channel as the bay itself has numerous wrecks and industrial obstacles hidden below the waterline.

Proceeding upstream from the bridge, Ogdensburg , on the American shore is noticeable by the Port sheds on the waterfront and the spires of the church.

After the 1837 rebellion many rebels fled to the United States and joined American sympathizers to overthrow the British colonial rule. This secret organization made one of the first attacks on what was to become Canada (then known as Upper & Lower Canada, and which are now the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec). In 1838 they landed 190 men at a site now marked by the Windmill light, siezing both the windmill and surrounding buildings. The local settlers remained loyal to the crown and within a few days 2000 malitia and regulars supported by locals and British Navel vessels retook the mill. This resulted in 11 executions and 60 of the invaders being exiled to Australia.

Prescott , founded in 1784 by the United Empire Loyalists (who had crossed the St. Lawrence after the defeat of the British in the USA War of Independance) has one of the newest harbours on the St Lawrence river. Your approach to the harbour is from downstream through a slight dogs-leg cut in the stone breakwall, with the historic Fort Wellington guarding it. This is a deep harbour offering an average of 14 feet docksides with 145 berths. The harbour is close to the town centre where you will find everything a visitor requires.