Discover New York's Museums with Don WIldman 1st ed.

Thousand Islands-Seaway central new york York State Historical Association, with fabulous examples of fine art— including Hudson River School canvases, and folk art just full of imagination. The museum’s Thaw Collection—one of the nation’s leading exhibits of American Indian art and artifacts— amply demons trates the aesthetic power of American Indian art through the beauty and artistry of more than 800 objects. fenimoreartmuseum.org 75.6 miles from Albany-Renssalaer Stn. When I was eleven, my father and I walked through the National love and abandoned in the wake of tragedy. In 1900, George Boldt, the millionaire proprietor of NYC’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, wanted to build a summer palace for his beloved wife, Louise. Hundreds of craftsmen labored to construct the six-story, 120 room castle—complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, towers and a dove cote—but construction was abruptly halted in 1904, after Louise’s sudden death. The heartbroken Boldt never returned to the island, and the castle and grounds deteriorated for almost 75 years. (Boldt did go on to make Thousand Islands salad dressing famous when, after sampling it in the region, he put it on the menu of his famous NYC hotel.) Now, with the restoration of castle, outbuildings and grounds, it makes for a magnificent visit, and you can even 98.6 miles from Syracuse Stn. rent it for your wedding. boldtcastle.com young fan, I was awed by the place but what I really loved was that my father felt exactly the same way. That day, we spent more time on his enshrined heroes than mine. It was the first time I ever saw my father as a former boy, just like me. Over the years, the Hall has been reconceived as a more colorful, modern museum experience. But standing in the admission line, I watched four different fathers wrangling eight excited kids all dressed in their hometown uniforms. It seemed to me not much has changed. Baseball still binds the generations—in so many ways, the Hall of Fame is the glue. baseballhall.org photo: zach winnie Boldt Castle, on Heart Island, near Alexandria Bay, was begun as an act of Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. Being a The Farmers’ Museum, across the street from the Fenimore, is a place where a family can easily spend a full afternoon immersed in the life of a 19th-century working farm and historical village, complete with a County Fair and the glorious Empire State Carousel. Demonstrations, livestock and a treasure trove of historical objects help make the rural life real. farmersmuseum.org 75.7 miles from Albany-Renssalaer Stn. 74.5 miles from Albany-Renssalaer Stn. The Frederic Remington Art Museum, in Ogdensburg, pairs a sumptuous early 19th century house—think wood paneling and Tiffany chandeliers—with an extensive collection of works by the enduringly popular painter of iconic images of the American west. Based on the collection of Eva Remington, the artist’s widow, not only does the museum have a broad selection of paintings, drawings and bronzes, there are many personal items— sketchbooks, notes, photographs and even the cigars in Remington’s pocket before he died—that provide a unique insight into both man and artist. fredericremington.org 119.0 miles from Rome Stn. 6 • iloveny.com The Antique Boat Museum in Clayton makes visitors wonder if there is anything more elegant than a vintage, wooden watercraft. What expresses the free spirit of the region better than a sleek mahogany runabout? You’ll be thrilled by this beautiful collection of classics and, weather permitting, can ride the river aboard the “Miss Thousand Islands” or ply the oars of a traditional Saint Lawrence skiff. This is one of those must-sees in New York. The museum is a serious and satisfying education in the origins of freshwater boating. The Antique Boat Show in August supplies the perfect reason to go! abm.org 89.3 miles from Syracuse Stn. Fort Stanwix National Monument, in Rome, is an The Fenimore Art Museum, on the site of author James Fenimore Cooper’s early 19th century farm house in Cooperstown, houses the impressive collections of the New important relic of several colonial wars. Designed in the shape of a four-pointed star, the fort was constru cted by the British in 1762 and reconstructed in 1974. It’s like a time machine, seeing the military arms, clothing, hardware, Indian artifacts and furnishings from the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War periods that take you back in history. nps.gov/fost 1.4 miles from Rome Station NY MUSEUMS BY RAIL

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