From War of 1812 battle sites to the barracks where a young Ulysses Grant spent two tours as a junior Army officer, this day plan is built for those who want to jump right into history.
- Print or download your tour map.
- Start your day with coffee and some baked teats from Chrissy Beanz Bakery.
- Get a feel for the town by exploring the village’s Bicentennial Trail on foot. These footpaths connect directly into Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, creating a six-mile flat walk. In the park you’ll find a costumed interpreters, a restored 1850s Navy shipyard and a visitor center housing one of the best book selections related to the War of 1812 available anywhere.
- The Seaway Trail Discovery Center offers an introduction to the 518-mile scenic drive that stretches across the welcoming communities of the Great Lakes shores of New York and Pennsylvania.
- If you venture a bit further, you’ll find the Army’s former Madison Barracks Administration Building, now operating as the Marina Inn and Suites and Madison Barracks Marina. Some of these historic buildings date back to the War of 1812.
- Other museums in the area include:
- Sackets Harbor Historical Society Museum, which offers materials for a self-guided tour of the town's architecture.
- Pickering-Beach Museum, which offers a peek into the lives of families living in Sackets Harbor across the centuries.
- 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum
- Jefferson County Historical Society
- If you head out of town, there are quirky historical sites to explore, like Robert G. Wehle State Park. The area was long a rifle range and artillery training ground for recruits from regional military installations. But in the latter half of the 20th century, it was owned by the Wehle family, owners of the Gennesee Brewing Company, who used it to raise Hereford cattle, breed English pointers and pursue an artistic calling in sculpture. In fact, visitors can see how many dog statues than can find during their visit.
- On the way back, stop for lunch at the Cherry Tree Inn or dinner at the Waterside Bar and Grill.
