1000 Islands History Museum, 125 Water St.

Museum Hours

Days Times
Tuesdays to Saturdays 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM
125 Water Street, Gananoque, Ontario, Canada

The 1000 Islands History Museum opened in 1995 and is located on the site of the first train station in Gananoque. Built in 1883, the original train station was the southern terminus of the Thousand Islands Railway, an 8km spur line of the Grand Trunk Railway. The station burned down in 1929 and a new station was built. The Thousand Islands Railway had the distinction of being one of the shortest railways in North America, and the only railway in Canada with a stop at a cemetery! The Thousand Islands Railway connected Gananoque to the outside world as rail became an increasingly popular method of travel. Rail transport proved vital to Gananoque’s burgeoning manufacturing and tourism sectors in the late-1800s. Passenger trains ran to and from the station until 1962. After passenger service ended, a restaurant was added to the building. The station burned down again on the morning of 24 September 1990. The Historic 1000 Islands Village Complex was built in its place in 1994, with structures designed in tribute to great Victorian homes in the area.

  • <p>This Thousand Islands Railway Staff photo was taken in 1905 infront of the original train station that was built in 1883.</p>
  • <p>Seen here is an early locomotive of the Thousand Islands Railway.</p>
  • <p>Taken some time before 1923, this photo shows the original train station located at the Gananoque waterfront. The 1000 Islands History Museum is located on the same site.</p>
  • <p>The original train station was built in 1883 to service the growing industry along the Gananoque River. The 1000 Islands History Museum sits on the location of the original stations.</p>
  • <p>Likely taken from the old train, (the current location of the 1000 Islands History Museum), this image shows the Gananoque waterfront as it looked in 1912 or 1913. The newly constructed Parmenter &amp; Bulloch factory is visible in the background and the train tracks run towards the Gananoque Inn.</p>
  • <p>This newspaper image shows a bustling Gananoque waterfront in 1913. The docks and original train station can be seen on the far right.</p>
  • <p>Not only was the Gananoque waterfront a busy place for trains, it was a hub for steamships, such as the S.S. Frontenac pictured here, that once plied the St. Lawrence River, much like today's tour boats of City Cruises.</p>
  • <p>This waterfront view was taken from near the current location of the City Cruises dock. The Thosaund Islands Railway freight yards and train station are visible in the background.</p>
  • <p>This is a view of the Gananoque Waterfront in 1929, as seen from the top of the train station, the current location of the 1000 Islands History Museum.</p>
  • <p>The Gananoque train station and its freight yards can be seen along the right shore.</p>

<p>The original train station was built in 1883 to service the growing industry along the Gananoque River. The 1000 Islands History Museum sits on the location of the original stations.</p>

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<p>Likely taken from the old train, (the current location of the 1000 Islands History Museum), this image shows the Gananoque waterfront as it looked in 1912 or 1913. The newly constructed Parmenter &amp; Bulloch factory is visible in the background and the train tracks run towards the Gananoque Inn.</p>