Frenchman Island facts for kids
Postcard showing Frenchman Island's steamboat landing in 1910.
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 Frenchman Island
Location in New York
Location of Frenchman Island in New York State
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Oneida Lake |
| Coordinates | 43°13′06″N 76°02′59″W / 43.21833°N 76.04972°W |
| Area | 26 acres (11 ha) |
| Highest elevation | 384 ft (117 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | New York |
| County | Oswego |
| Town | Constantia |
Frenchman Island is a small island in Oneida Lake, New York. It is about 26 acres in size. Long ago, it was known as "Seven Mile Island" during the American Revolution. The Onondaga people, who lived there before, called it Kah-wha-nah-kee.
This island used to be a popular vacation spot. Today, no one lives there, and it is mostly wild. You can still see an old lighthouse and a dock on the south side. The island is open for everyone to visit, but you can only get there by boat.
Why is it Called Frenchman Island?
Frenchman Island got its name from an old story. The story is about the first European people who lived on the island. It tells of a French man and a rich French woman. They ran away to America because the woman's father did not approve.
They built a home on the island in the late 1700s. They lived there for seven years and had three children. People who visited were surprised to find a nice home on the island. At that time, the island was deep in the wilderness. Eventually, the woman's father made up with her. The family was then able to go back to France.
In 1831, a writer named Alexis de Tocqueville visited the island. He was looking for clues about the French family. He found only small remains of their old house.
Frenchman Island Lighthouse
Frenchman Island has one of three lighthouses on Oneida Lake. These lighthouses help boats find their way. They were built in 1917 for the New York State Canal System. This canal system uses Oneida Lake as a path for boats. It connects the Hudson River to Lake Erie.
The Frenchman Island Lighthouse is still working today. The New York State Canal Corporation takes care of it. The lighthouse was finished in August 1917. It might have started shining its light in 1918. Today, the light is powered by electricity. It shines a bright white light that turns on and off. This light can be seen from up to 20 miles away.
The lighthouse tower was first built to be 85 feet tall. In 1949, another 20 feet were added to it. It stands on an 18-foot hill on the island. This makes the light shine from 123 feet above the lake.
Fun on the Island: Public Use
For a long time, Frenchman Island has been a popular spot. People loved to visit for sightseeing and picnics. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was a small resort on the island. It had a two-story hotel and a bowling alley.
Trains from Syracuse would bring visitors. Then, steamboats would take them to the island. Visitors could enjoy "boating, sailing, fishing, bathing, tennis, croquet, base-ball and good music."
Later, the island was managed as Frenchman Island State Park. It was mostly wild, with not much left from its resort days. For many years, the park was closed because of damage. It reopened in 2008. In 2011, the island was given to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They planned to manage it as a Wildlife Management Area. The island is now part of the Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area.
