named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Festival of Trees and Craft Show
Seasonal community event showcasing holiday-themed trees, local crafts, and handmade goods, combining fundraising with cultural celebration.
Decoy and Wildlife Art Show
Annual event featuring exhibits and an auction of hand-carved decoys and wildlife art, highlighting regional folk art traditions and supporting local artisans.
Research Library
On-site library housing historical documents, photos, maps, and local histories, available to students, scholars, and the public for research and education.
Sunset History Boat Tours
Seasonal narrated boat tours exploring the history, folklore, and natural features of the St. Lawrence River islands, including themed tours such as ghost stories, lighthouse visits, and archaeological history.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Hosts educational and public presentationsHosts public presentations including a talk on the research behind the documentary film on the origins of Thousand Island dressing and vocational archaeologist-led programs covering 12,000 years of regional history.
- Preserves and documents regional history and artifactsEngages in the preservation and documentation of artifacts, including the study of early use of decoys, historical reliance on fish and wildlife, regional carving styles, and the development of local traditions; maintains a permanent collection that includes items such as the Goldeneye Drake decoy carved by Sam Denny.
-
-
Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Conducts history boat tours and related eventsOperates sunset history boat tours through the Thousand Islands, including stops at historical sites such as Heart Island, Morgan Island, and the Admiralty Islands, with guided presentations on regional history, haunted stories, and archaeological insights; tours include buffet lunch and depart at 3:00 PM or 4:30 PM depending on event.
-
-
Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Hosts annual Decoy, Wildlife Art & Sporting Collectible ShowOrganizes the 58th Annual Decoy, Wildlife Art & Sporting Collectible Show, continuing a tradition that began as a special exhibit in 1968 and evolved into an annual juried event featuring decoys and wildlife art.
-
-
Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Hosts special on-site events and dinnersHosts annual public events including a roast pork dinner, Festival of Trees, Christmas Festival of Trees and Craft Show, and a Traditional Shore Dinner on Morgan Island featuring historic meals associated with fishing guides.
-
-
Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Manages research library and historical documentationMaintains a Research Library at 312 James Street containing historical documents, photos, maps, books, and special displays including a 9/11 memorial with steel from the Twin Towers and an exhibit honoring local veterans.
-
-
Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
- Offers volunteer opportunitiesProvides volunteer opportunities in collections, research, special events, public relations, staff support, education, and retail to support museum operations and programming.
-
-
Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operates museum exhibitions and public accessOperates the Thousand Islands Museum to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM during the summer months, including permanent and rotating exhibits and handicapped access to the second floor gallery via a lift/elevator.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$71K
Contributions & grants$38K53%
Program service revenue$31K43%
Investment income$40%
Other revenue$12
expenses
Total expenses$95K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$13K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$285K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$283K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +16.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 5
- Chris Badour — Trustee
- Glenn Sweet — Trustee
- Julie Garnsey — Trustee
- Patty Wagner — Trustee
- Rachel Scudera — Trustee
relationships · 25
Who they work with
- American Legion Post 821 Partner — Host venue for the annual Roast Pork Dinner event.
- Andrea Reeves Partner — Filmmaker who co-led a presentation on the origins of Thousand Island dressing.
- Boldt Castle Partner — Collaborates to offer joint garden and castle tours during the museum's boat tour events.
- Candy Duswalt Partner — Director on the Board of Directors of Thousand Islands Museum
- Cerow Recreation Park Partner — Hosted the 2026 Decoy Auction at its arena facility.
- Clayton Municipal Building Partner — Host venue for the Annual Juried Craft Show.
- Eric J. Roberts Partner — Filmmaker who co-led a presentation on the origins of Thousand Island dressing.
- Facebook Network — Uses Facebook Business page to share updates about museum hours and events.
- Facebook Network — Uses Facebook Page to communicate updates and changes to museum hours and events.
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook Page for public updates and schedule changes.
- Glenn Sweet Partner — Director on the Board of Directors of Thousand Islands Museum
- Jeff Garnsey Partner — Vice President of the Board of Directors of Thousand Islands Museum
- Jordan Coughlin Partner — Clayton Historian affiliated with Thousand Islands Museum
- Julie Garnsey Partner — Director on the Board of Directors of Thousand Islands Museum
- Ken Knapp Partner — Collaborates with vocational archaeologist Ken Knapp to deliver a historical presentation on the region's Indigenous peoples and natural history during a sunset boat tour.
- Mary Scudera Partner — Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Thousand Islands Museum
- NYS Park Service Partner — Collaborates with the NYS Park Service to provide historical interpretation during the Sunset History Boat Tour.
- Parks Canada Government — References Island 43B as part of Parks Canada during the boat tour.
- Patti W. Lashomb Partner — Director of Programs & Services at Thousand Islands Museum
- Rachel Scudera Partner — Secretary of the Board of Directors of Thousand Islands Museum
- Sam Denny Partner — Carver whose work, Goldeneye Drake, is held in the Thousand Islands Museum collection.
- Sharon Bourquin Partner — Research Library contact at Thousand Islands Museum
- Tom Humberstone Partner — President of the Board of Directors of Thousand Islands Museum
- Town of Clayton Government — Shares a historian role with the Town of Clayton, indicating a collaborative relationship with the local government.
- local fishing guide Partner — Collaborates with a local fishing guide to host the Traditional Shore Dinner on Morgan Island.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cultural Heritage Preservation Through Artifacts and Traditionsmethodology: cultural-preservationBy preserving artifacts and staging traditional cultural experiences such as historic shore dinners and folk art displays, we sustain regional heritage because tangible and performative traditions together reinforce cultural continuity and public connection to history.
- Place-Based Immersive Educationmethodology: place-based_educationBy delivering historical education through guided boat tours that connect physical sites with narrative storytelling, we produce deeper public understanding of regional and Indigenous history because immersive, location-specific experiences enhance engagement and retention.