Wellesley Island - Alexandria, NY - Large Island by the St. Lawrence River

Located in Alexandria, New York, Wellesley Island is one of the Thousand Islands. The Thousand Islands are a series of islands in the St. Lawrence River that form the border between Canada and the USA. There are over 1,700 islands, and Wellesley Island is one of the larger ones. Wellesley Island is located in Jefferson County, and one of the island's main access roads is the I-81, which bisects the Island.

The St. Lawrence River surrounds Wellesley Island on three sides. Wellesley Island itself has an internal body of water called the Lake of the Isles. The Lake of the Isles acts as a waterfront. Wellesley Island is home to three golf courses, two state parks, and a nature center. The Thousand Island Park Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, is located at the southern end of Wellesley Island.

The Thousand Islands International Bridge links Wellesley Island to the shores of the river using five segments. This bridge is said to be one of the smallest (possibly even the smallest) international bridge in the world. One of the segments of the bridge crosses a channel known as the International Rift. This channel is what separates Wellesley Island from Hill Island, which is a Canadian island. The United States has a border-crossing facility on the northeastern part of Wellesley Island.

Wellesley Island is home to several bays and marshes. Eel Bay is a large bay that can be found separating Wellesley Island from Grindstone Island. South Bay is located at the southeast end of the island. Densmore Bay is on the south shore of the peninsula in the southeast of the island. There is also a swamp known as Barnett Marsh, which is also located in the southern section of Wellesley Island.

The population of the island is growing, and Wellesley Island is home to the following communities: Fineview, Grandview, Collins Landing, Westminster Park, Moore Landing, and Thousand Island Park. In addition, there are two state parks located on the island. Dewolf Point State Park is on the northeast peninsula of the island. Wellesley Island State Park has several access points on the island. Mary Island State Park, while not actually on Wellesley Island, can only be accessed by water and is separated from Wellesley Island by a small channel at the eastern tip of the island.

There are several popular attractions located on the island. The Rock Island Lighthouse, the chapel at Westminster Park, and the TI Park Pavilion are just a few of the attractions available. Visitors may also want to check out the Boldt Castle Yacht House, which is located off of County Route 100. The Densmore Church and the Riverside Cemetery are both located off of County Route 100A.

Densmore Church is a historic church that was established in 1902. It overlooks Densmore Bay. The church features and embossed tin ceiling, stained glass, brass lamps, and beautiful woodwork. The church is available for weddings. Anyone interested in obtaining additional information about Densmore Church can be obtained by calling 315-482-9218 or 315-686-5572.