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The Sackets Harbor Experience
Guided
Group Tours
About Sackets Harbor
Overlooking beautiful Lake Ontario, Sackets Harbor offers fun activities for the whole family. Sheltered on Black River Bay, the village is one of New York State’s Heritage Areas with exceptional historic attractions and beautifully tree-lined streets. The entire town provides an opportunity to discover a unique history, charming architecture, and a variety of activities. As the headquarters for the Seaway Trail and home to the Seaway Trail Discovery Center, we invite groups to join us for a three hour guided group tour.
Tour Details
Guided tour of Sackets Harbor including the village, Augustus Sacket Mansion, Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor Battlefield, Pickering-Beach Museum, and the Seaway Trail Discovery Center with professional step-on guide. The three-hour Sackets Harbor Experience guided group tour is available daily May through October.
Cost is $10 per person (20 people minimum).
For an additional cost, lunch is available at area restaurants.
For Extended Tour Ideas, ask for a list of restaurants, gift shops, accomodations, and nearby attractions including Lake Ontario Playhouse - offering professional summer and holiday theater and stand-up comedy year-round - and Old McDonald's Children's Farm & 400 Cow Dairy Tour.
For reservations, call (315) 646-1000 x200 or email info@seawaytrail.com.
 Photo by HarborSide Services |
What You'll See...
In addition to the beautiful village of Sackets Harbor (see photo gallery below), your professional tour guide will take you to each of the following sites:
Augustus Sacket Mansion
Located at 301 West Main Street, the Augustus Sacket Mansion was built by the founder of the village in 1801. Today, it houses the Sackets Harbor Visitors’ Center, complete with a Gift Shop, visitor information, along with a tour of the building, orientation exhibits, and the viewing of the "Harbor of Destiny" video.
www.sacketsharborny.com
Madison Barracks
With its strategic position, abundant resources and superb natural harbor. Sackets become the center of military and naval operations for the war of 1812's northern theatre. The grounds have played a part in every war involving our nation from the War of 1812 to World War II.
Construction of Madison Barracks began in 1815. Today, Madison Barracks merges the old and the new in a dramatic setting. More than 115 landscaped acres overlooking Lake Ontario create a picture-book panorama for 30 timeless, brick and stone buildings.
Feel the respect and awe for this historic place which for so many years served so many.
www.madisonbarracks.com/?page=history
Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site
Following the outbreak of war between the United States and Great Britain in June 1812, Sackets Harbor became the center of American naval and military activity for the upper St. Lawrence Valley and Lake Ontario. In an attempt to destroy the American shipyard in Sackets Harbor,a British-Canadian force launched an attack on May 29, 1813. At that time the majority of the American forces were across Lake Ontario attacking Fort George. The remaining Americans drove off the enemy, but their narrow victory was marred by a fire that destroyed their military stores. Sackets Harbor became the center for shipbuilding on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812.
Today the Sackets Harbor Battlefield shares our rich history through an interpretive trail and exhibits, living history including the annual War of 1812 Weekend event, tours of a completely restored 1860 naval officer's home, and an informational gallery and gift shop. During the summer months, staff re-enact 1813 camp life of soldiers and laundresses.
www.sacketsharborbattlefield.org • www.nysparks.com
Pickering-Beach Museum
The Pickering-Beach Historical Museum depicts life in Sackets Harbor in the mid-19th century. It consists of two buildings - the Pickering Cottage and the Pickering-Beach House. The Pickering Cottage is a small, one and a half story front-gable structure built circa 1809, typical of many of the houses built in Sackets Harbor at this time. The Pickering-Beach House was built circa 1817 by Joshua Pickering, a native of Massachusetts. Joshua died in 1822 and the House passed to his son, Captain Augustus A. Pickering. Captain Pickering was a Great Lakes Captain and the first person to sail a commercial vessel in to the port of Chicago. After Captain Pickering's death, the house eventually became property of his daughter, Olivia Pickering. Olivia married Allen C. Beach, a lawyer who served as Lieutenant Governor under Gov. John T. Hoffman from 1868 to 1872 and as Secretary of New York State from 1878 to 1880.
In 1941, the Pickering Cottage and Pickering-Beach House were deeded to the Village of Sackets Harbor. By the late 1980's, the wood frame structures had become severely deteriorated and there were questions as to whether they would be able to safely serve their function of collection exhibitory and storage. With funding from New York State and substantial support from the Village and the Sackets Harbor Historical Society, the Pickering-Beach has been completely renovated and re-opened in June of 1998.
www.sacketsharborny.com/pbmuseum.html
Seaway Trail Discovery Center
Located in the historic Union Hotel, c. 1817, our interactive exhibits cover a variety of topics including Maritime History, Military History, Lighthouses, Natural History, Agriculture, and much more! Learn about the Seaway Trail and launch your own voyage of discovery. Within the three stories of this exquisite Federal Style limestone building overlooking Lake Ontario you may:
• “Travel” the 518-mile Seaway Trail from a unique and majestic muraled orientation room. Ride in a “fantasy car” or sit by a campsite. Explore endless historical and recreational destination opportunities throughout the ten county region along New York's fresh water coast.
• Meet exciting animatronic characters such as Ulysses S. Grant and our Holstein dairy cow. They'll tell you what life was like in the 1800s, the courageous individuals who settled the Seaway Trail region, and the importance and economic impact of the Dairy Industry.
• Visit the twenty-seven lighthouses of the Seaway Trail from our Maritime History room.
• Seek out the answers in the apothecary cabinet to provoking questions about the War of 1812.
• Study the architecture and natural history indigenous to the Seaway Trail.
• Browse our Gift Shop. A tasteful collection of regional art, comestibles and fine gifts.
Click to go to the Seaway Trail Discovery Center Information Page
Some of the beautiful sites to be seen in the historic village of Sackets Harbor:
Photos by HarborSide Services
