boldt yacht house

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Boldt Castle and Boldt Yacht House

Historic Sites

This 120-room Rhineland-style castle and yacht house built at the turn of the 20th century are the 1000 Islands region’s top attraction. Boldt Castle is home to one of the saddest love stories ever told. Wander the halls and imagine what could have been if tragedy had not struck. Boldt Castle is the story of one man’s devotion to his beloved wife and a dream that went unfulfilled.

Visitors to Boldt Castle return often to see rehabilitation work done on various island buildings and rooms within the castle. They admire the grandeur of the completed rooms while observing the toll that more than 70 unguarded years took on the upper floors.

The castle is accessible by tour boat, water taxi and private watercraft and handicap accessible. Boldt Castle is located in the U.S., so passengers arriving by boat from Canadian ports must provide proper identification for U.S. Customs and Border Protection clearance.

Boldt Castle & Yacht House

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Visit this extraordinary castle built by George C. Boldt.

New York’s Thousand Isles once served as a playground for wealthy and famous families. Boldt saw it as the prime location for the castle he envisioned to build for his family. The project started in the 1900s with the help of thousands of workers, but he immediately suspended construction upon the death of his wife. It wasn’t until 70 years later that the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority bought out the property and restored it. The castle is located on Heart Island and includes 120 rooms, a drawbridge, tunnels, and the iconic Alster Tower (serving as a children’s playhouse). 

The Boldt Castle is only accessible by boat. You can book local tour boats or take a personal craft to dock near these sites. Both the castle and yacht house are open seasonally from early May to early October. Hours of operation are 10:30 am to 6:30 pm. Tickets are required to tour the Boldt castle and yacht house. This is a unique place that children and adults of all ages can enjoy.

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Boldt Castle: A Captivating Gem on Heart Island

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Boldt Castle: The Architectural Marvel on Heart Island

Nestled amidst the breathtaking Thousand Islands region of New York State, Boldt Castle stands as a majestic and awe-inspiring landmark that captures the hearts of countless visitors each year. Set upon the beautiful Heart Island in the town of Alexandria Bay, this architectural gem graces the shimmering waters of the Saint Lawrence River, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of grandeur and opulence.

Boldt Castle opens its doors to guests from mid-May through mid-October. Stepping onto Heart Island following a short ferry ride, visitors are transported to a world steeped in history as they tour the castle full of captivating stories.

Step into History: Exploring the Timeless Beauty of Boldt Castle

Originally conceived as a private mansion and a testament to love, Boldt Castle was commissioned by the American millionaire, George Boldt. With its regal turrets and intricate stonework, the castle embodies the vision of a man whose affluence and passion were matched only by his unyielding devotion to his wife.

Today, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority meticulously maintains Boldt Castle as a tourist attraction. Visitors from near and far are invited to explore its grand halls, lush gardens, and hidden nooks, each filled with the echoes of a love story that transcends time. As the castle continues to captivate and inspire, it remains a cherished symbol of the Thousand Islands region’s rich history.

Building a Dream: The Extraordinary Construction of Boldt Castle

George Boldt, the general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City and Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, along with his family, spent their summers at their expansive, charming frame cottage on Hart Island, the island’s original name. In the early 1900s, George Boldt embarked on an awe-inspiring construction endeavor to create one of the largest private homes in the United States – a monumental, six-story masonry castle that would stand as a testament to his devotion to his wife.

The esteemed architectural firm G. W. & W. D. Hewitt was enlisted for the construction of his vision, and hundreds of laborers set to work. Boldt Castle was accompanied by four other remarkable masonry structures on the island, each an architectural marvel. The opulence extended to neighboring Wellesley Island, where the Boldts owned a vast estate complete with another summer home, farms, canals, a golf course, tennis courts, stables, and a polo field. A large yacht house, a testament to the Boldts’ lavish lifestyle, also adorned the island.

Love, Loss, and Abandonment

However, tragedy struck in early 1904 with the untimely death of Boldt’s beloved wife, Louise Kehrer Boldt. Heartbroken, Boldt ceased construction of the castle and never returned to Heart Island, though he continued to spend summers in the Thousand Islands region until his death in 1916. For 73 years, Boldt Castle and the other magnificent stone structures lay abandoned, exposed to the ravages of harsh winter weather and the destruction of occasional vandals.

Preserving the Past

In 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired Heart Island and the nearby yacht house for just one dollar. The agreement stipulated that all revenue generated from the castle’s operation would be directed towards restoration, preserving the island for future generations to cherish. Boldt Castle made its debut in 1979, serving as a backdrop for the movie Fear No Evil.

Over the next five decades, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority invested nearly $15 million in restoration and improvements, with work continuing annually. While the initial goal was to restore the island to its state at the time of construction’s halt, ongoing enhancements have surpassed that aim. The castle now boasts a restored stained glass dome, a marble floor, intricate grand staircase woodwork, a butler’s pantry, and opulent maid’s and servant’s dining rooms, as well as a fully restored kitchen. As of 2023, over $50 million has been dedicated to the meticulous restoration and rehabilitation of Boldt Castle and its surrounding structures, ensuring that the extraordinary structures continues to captivate the hearts and imaginations of visitors for generations to come.

A Gateway to Grandeur

Today, Boldt Castle welcomes visitors to embark on a journey across the tranquil waters of the Saint Lawrence River, accessible by ferry, private vessel, or one of the many tour boats operating from Alexandria Bay, New York, Clayton, New York, Gananoque, Ontario, Rockport, Ontario, and Ivy Lea, Ontario. A sense of wonder and anticipation fills the air as guests set foot on Heart Island, ready to explore the grandeur of the grounds and buildings.

Private boaters are granted the privilege of docking at Heart Island free of charge, while Boldt Castle further serves as a Port of Entry, complete with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection office on the island. Canadian visitors must present appropriate identification, as setting foot on Heart Island is considered entering the United States.

Step into Elegance: Exploring the Rooms of Boldt Castle

The meticulously restored and beautifully furnished rooms on the first and second floors of Boldt Castle provide a wonderful atmosphere for guests. The second floor is home to the gift store, where visitors can purchase souvenirs, as well as a theatre that showcases a 16-minute introductory video delving into the life of George Boldt and the remarkable history of Boldt Castle.

While the third and fourth floors remain largely unfurnished, they house interesting exhibits featuring photographs and original artifacts from the Gilded Age, offering visitors a glimpse into the Boldts’ lavish lifestyle in the Thousand Islands region. Several rooms have been intentionally left unfurnished, inviting guests to imagine the castle’s appearance prior to the restoration efforts undertaken by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority.

Boldt Castle’s basement remains largely unfinished, featuring a pool, numerous compartments, and a tunnel passage leading to the Power House. At the edge of the island, an imposing peristyle archway stands, envisioned as the original entrance for boats to Heart Island. The bridge connecting the two sides would have been designed to be raised and lowered as needed, further accentuating the castle’s unique design.

The Many Other Structures on Heart Island

Situated on the eastern edge of Heart Island, the Power House stands as a testament to early 20th-century ingenuity. This building was specifically designed to house a generator capable of supplying the entire island with power through a steam generation system. Exhibits within the Power House provide a fascinating insight into how electricity was harnessed in the early 1900s, while also showcasing a display of historic photographs depicting the construction of Boldt Castle and the surrounding Thousand Islands region. Though nearly destroyed by a devastating fire in the 1930s, the Power House was one of the first restoration projects undertaken by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority after acquiring the property in 1977.

Drawing inspiration from a Rhineland defense tower in Germany, the Alster Tower was purposefully crafted with slanting and uneven walls, ceilings, and roofs, lending it a striking, one-of-a-kind appearance. Situated on the island’s southern side, overlooking Alexandria Bay, this architectural marvel houses a two-lane bowling alley and a stage for performances.

On nearby Wellesley Island, the George C. Boldt Yacht House stands proudly as the sole remaining wooden yacht house structure of its kind. The interior boasts lavish living quarters and an impressive collection of antique and wooden boats. For an additional admission fee, visitors can journey via shuttle from Heart Island to the Yacht House on Wellesley Island to see these exhibits. In recognition of its historical significance, the Yacht House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The allure of Boldt Castle and the charm of Alexandria Bay have not gone unnoticed in popular culture. The 1969 children’s novel “Secret Castle” by Anne Colver masterfully weaves a tale centered around the enchanting castle and the picturesque bay, capturing the imagination of readers of all ages.

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7 MOST extravagant houses of 19th century Moscow

1. The Levenson House, Trekhprudnyi Lane, 9

The lantern above the Levenson House

This house, designed by architect Fyodor Shekhtel, was built for Alexander Levenson, the proprietor of a famous Moscow typography, in 1900. The house had space for printing machines, as well as living premises. The highlight of the house is a fascinating roof lantern. Recently, the house was scientifically restored and is now for sale. The 1,000-sq.m. building’s price tag is 1.1 billion rubles (approx. $14.4 mln).

The interior of the Levenson House

2. The Zimins House, Degtyarny Lane, 8/3

The interior of the Zimins' House

What seems an ordinary house from the outside is really one of the poshest mansions of 19th century Moscow, built for Nikolay Zimin, a major Russian tobacco trader. Built in 1896 according to the project by Edmund Yuditsky, it still houses the original interior decoration. Russian cinema buffs might recognize it from the movie ‘Brat-2’, directed by Alexey Balabanov.

The Zimins' House from the outside

Currently, the building houses the Agency for the Management and Use of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Ministry of Culture of Russia – some of the foremost specialists in heritage preservation in the country.

3. The Igumnov House, Bolshaya Yakimanka Street, 43

The Igumnov House

This house looks like a palace right out of a Russian fairytale, but it was actually built in 1895 (designed by architect Nikolay Pozdneev), at the order of Nikolay Igumnov, a textile tycoon from Yaroslavl.

The door and the porch decoration of the Igumnov House

The bricks were shipped in from the Netherlands, the fascinating porcelain facade tiles made following a special order at the Kuznetsov porcelain factory, the most famous in Russia at the time. The cost of the house was allegedly around 1 million rubles (when 150 rubles was a solid year’s salary). Inside, the 40 rooms of the house were decorated in a variety of styles – from traditional Russian to art nouveau.

The staircase in the Igumnov House

Currently, the Igumnov House is the residence of the French ambassador to Russia.

The interior of the Igumnov House

4. The Morozova House, Spiridonovka Street, 17

Zinaida Morozova's House

Another house by Fyodor Shekhtel, a star of Moscow art nouveau, was commissioned by Zinaida Morozova, the wife of Savva Morozov, a textile tycoon.

The exterior decorations of Zinaida Morozova's House

The interior design was made by a famous painter Mikhail Vrubel, who made several murals inspired by chivalry aesthetics of Medieval Europe, resonating with the neo-gothic style of the house.

The interior of Zinaida Morozova's House

In 1938, the Morozova House became the House of Receptions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which it stays to this day.

5. The Vtorov Mansion (Spaso House), Spasopeskovskaya Square

Spaso-House from the outside

This mansion, commissioned by textile industrialist Nikolay Vtorov, was built in 1913. It takes its English name, Spaso House, from Spasopeskovskaya Square, where it is located. It’s a neo-classical recreation of a classic upper-class city mansion of the 1820s, with palladian windows and a perfectly symmetrical interior plan.

The interior of Spaso-House

Vtorov’s family lived in the house for just 4 years before the Revolution, after which the house was expropriated by the new Soviet government to serve as a reception house for the All-Russia Central Executive Committee.

Spaso-House's inner rooms

In 1933, the house became the residence of William C. Bullitt, the first U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, and has stayed the residence of the U.S. ambassadors ever since. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan all stayed there when they visited Moscow.

The dining room at Spaso-House

6. The Ryabushinsky Mansion, Malaya Nikitskaya Street, 6/2

The Ryabushinski Mansion

This mansion, again built by Fyodor Shekhtel, this time for millionaire Stepan Ryabushinsky in 1900-1902, is probably the architect’s most famous work in Moscow. Apart from all the fascinating art nouveau interior decoration and the famous stairwell with a jellyfish lamp, the mansion also housed a secret chapel – the Ryabushinskis were Old Believers, outlawed in Russia until 1905. “I believe that in the whole of Europe there is no house like this,” Ryabushinski said when examining the newly-built mansion.

The Ryabushinski Mansion's 'jellyfish' staircase

After 1917, when the Ryabushinsky family fled Russia, the house became the state’s property and, in 1931, writer Maxim Gorky and his family started living there. Gorky didn’t like the mansion at all, calling it “awkward, but fit for working at least”. After Gorky’s death, the mansion became Maxim Gorky’s personal museum, which helped preserve the unique interiors of the house to the present day.

A stained glass window in the Ryabushinski Mansion

The dining room inside the Ryabushinski Mansion

7. The Berg City Mansion, Denezhny Lane, 5/1

Berg city mansion

Constructed in 1897 by Pyotr Boytsov, the house was commissioned by a businessman named Sergey Berg. It comprises different styles – gothic, baroque and art nouveau. Berg’s mansion was one of the first Moscow homes to have electricity installed – lighting and an electric doorbell. It was here that the first “electric ball” was held.

The Berg city mansion from the inside

The house, which had preserved all its original interior decoration, was renovated in 2016. It currently houses the Italian Embassy in Russia.

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Official Boldt Castle Website - Alexandria Bay NY in the Heart of the 1000 Islands

1000 Islands NY tour St. Lawrence River

Accessible by water taxi, tour boats and private boat, the castle is open for self-guided tours from mid-May through mid-October.  The five-acre island is fully handicapped accessible, has complete restroom facilities, extensive docking for  private boats, several picnic areas, a gift shop, and a food and beverage concession.

Inside the Castle the first floor has been restored to reflect George and Louise Boldt’s intended finished interior complete with furnishings.

Hundreds of windows have been replaced and beautiful custom made doors and decorative windows now enhance the entrances. The Castle rises six stories from the foundation level of the indoor pool to the highest towered room.

Web site courtesy of the: Thousand Islands Bridge Authority / Boldt Castle PO Box 428, Collins Landing Alexandria Bay, NY 13607

In Season: 315-482-9724 Off Season: 315-482-2501

Coordinates: +44° 20' 40.29" N, -75° 55' 21.27" W

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Art galleries in moscow.

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What travelers are saying.

• Art Center. Moscow
• Multimedia Art Museum
• Zurab Tseretelli's Art Gallery
• Ilya Glazunov Gallery
• Shopping-Entertainment Complex Atrium
• Gallery Na Kashirke
• Watercolor School of Sergeya Andriyaki
• Lumiere Gallery
• Moscow State Exhibition Hall ‘New Manege’
• Central House of Artist
• Artplay Design and Architecture Center
• The World Calligraphy Museum
• Academy of Aquarelle and Fine Arts of Sergey Andriyaka