A Region Shaped by Time
The 1000 Islands history is as deep and rich as the St. Lawrence River itself. From Indigenous peoples who first called these islands home, to French explorers who paddled these waters centuries ago, to the Gilded Age millionaires who built elaborate castles and grand estates on private islands, every community along the river has a story worth telling.
Whether you’re strolling the streets of a historic riverside town, gazing up at the turrets of Boldt Castle, or simply watching a freighter glide through the shipping channel, you’re standing in the middle of a living, breathing history that spans centuries and crosses two nations.
Explore the stories of the communities that make the 1000 Islands what it is today — and discover the people, industries, and moments that shaped this remarkable region.
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The Delicious Mystery Behind Thousand Island Dressing
It’s one of the most popular salad dressings in the world — found on salad bars, Reuben sandwiches, and in the “secret sauces” of countless fast food chains. But ask where Thousand Island Dressing actually came from, and you’ll get more than one answer.
Two competing origin stories have been debated for over a century. One traces the dressing to Sophia LaLonde, a fishing guide’s wife in the small river town of Clayton, New York, who whipped it up as part of a shore dinner on the St. Lawrence River. The other credits Oscar Tschirky — the legendary maitre d’ of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel — who allegedly improvised the recipe aboard George Boldt’s private yacht near Alexandria Bay.
Both stories involve the same cast of colorful Gilded Age characters. Both are told with passionate conviction. And both lead back to the same breathtaking stretch of water: the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York.
So who really invented it — and does the truth lie somewhere in between?
Read the full story and decide for yourself. The answer might just surprise you.