A castle without its princess

The Thousand Islands form an archipelago of more than 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence River, ranging in size from tiny to quite substantial. The islands straddle the Canada-U.S. border, sandwiched between Eastern Ontario and New York State.

There is a fascinating love story associated with a large castle on a heart-shaped island in American waters in the Thousand Islands. The six-storey, 120-room castle, constructed by George C. Boldt, was to be a gift for his dear wife, Louise, whom he adored.

They both loved the Thousand Islands, and like many of their affluent “Gilded Age” contemporaries at the end of the 19^th century, they spent their summers there in grand homes or on expensive yachts on the river.

These millionaires had made their fortunes in the new industries of the time (like railroads, large scale manufacturing, department stores and hotels). Once they discovered the area, they created their own little community in the Thousand Islands, away from the traditional elites of New York and Boston.

The castle was to be completed and ready for moving in before Valentine’s Day in 1904. But those plans were thwarted. Boldt’s princess died the month before they were to move in. The project was promptly abandoned. It is said that George Boldt never returned to live on the island.

Boldt immigrated from Prussia in 1864, barely thirteen and penniless. He started work as a dishwasher, but he was ambitious, and he slowly learned the intricacies of the hospitality sector. Through his hard work, flair for the business and inventiveness, he worked his way to the top and went on to run a prestigious private club with enormous success. He ended up managing and then owning large hotels, including the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

After purchasing Hart Island in 1895, George Boldt renovated and expanded an existing cottage on the island. He got the island reshaped in the form of a human heart (by the addition of a pond and a small marina) and renamed it “Heart Island”. Then in 1899, he demolished the old cottage in order to build his dream home, reminiscent of a “castle on the Rhine”.

The construction of Boldt’s castle was an audacious project that employed the best architects, landscape gardeners, plasterers, stonemasons and cabinetmakers of the time. The granite blocks came from his own quarry on Oak Island, eight miles away, and were transported on barges. White marble mantlepieces and many mosaics and tapestries came from Europe.

Boldt also owned a farm on Wellesley Island, nearby, which supplied the castle, as well as local establishments and his hotels, with meat and vegetables. A large boathouse was constructed there to house his collection of boats and yachts.

Unfortunately, over the seventy years following the death of Louise, the unfinished castle and all adjacent buildings, structures and gardens fell into disrepair and were vandalized. But in 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the island and undertook a major restoration project, thus creating a living museum that shines a light on a period of incredible wealth, inventiveness, craftsmanship and magnificence. Boldt Castle has become a popular tourist attraction for the region, and the entrance fees finance the ongoing work.

The meticulous work of restoration is, today, as ambitious as the original construction. The sections of the buildings that have not yet been restored are just as interesting to visit because they provide an appreciation for the remarkable work that has been done to date. The many explanatory panels detail the history of the castle and the current preservation and restoration efforts.

All the restored rooms and hallways in the castle are beautifully furnished and decorated. The dining room has original Boldt family furniture, bone China dinnerware and engraved silverware that were donated by the great grandchildren of George and Louise Boldt. A small cinema on the second floor shows an informative documentary about the history of the Boldt family.

There are two other major buildings on Heart Island. The imposing Power House is linked to the main island by a stone arched bridge. It provided the electricity to heat and light all the buildings and the grounds, in addition to the operation of the domestic water pump.

The Alster Tower, a building meant for leisure activities, housed two bowling alleys, a billiard room, a stage, a library and additional bedrooms for visitors. It is possible to visit the Yacht House, on Wellesley Island, for an additional small fee.

We did a boat cruise to the Thousand Islands and Boldt Castle (from Rockport, Ontario) for the first time about fifteen years ago. The boat docked at the castle for just a short period because there was little to visit. Today, the same tour stops for 2.5 hours and it is not long enough to see everything.

We invite you to watch our short video to see why we think Boldt Castle is well worth a visit.