Clayton was named No. 1 in a USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice lineup for ‘Best Small Town Cultural Scene’ in 2022.
After you arrive, your first stop should be the Chamber of Commerce in the heart of the Village on historic Riverside Drive. The friendly staff will answer all of your questions and help with maps, guides and anything else you need. With so many choices, your most difficult decision will be where to begin!
Why not start with a Museum? Clayton is home to three, including the Antique Boat Museum. Visitors can stroll amidst the Museum’s priceless collection of boats including the elegantly furnished 106’ Gilded-Age houseboat “La Duchesse.” Enjoy a speedboat ride in a triple cockpit mahogany runabout or take up the oars yourself in a wooden skiff and explore the waterfront of Clayton. The Antique Boat Museum welcomes the public to Oar, Paddle & Sail Nights hosted throughout the summer. The first weekend in August, the Annual Antique Boat Show and Auction is held and draws exhibitors and vendors from around the world. Boat building classes, entertaining educational programs for children and special family activities are also available. Before leaving make sure you check out the Museum Store and pick up a nautical keepsake.
The Thousand Islands Arts Center, home of the Handweaving Museum, brings the visual arts to life in the 1000 Islands through art instruction, exhibitions, and community events. The Arts Center campus now spans from John Street to James Street, with a new, state-of-the-art Arts Center on James Street that will expand programming and exhibition opportunities. Year-round, the Thousand Islands Arts Center offers a wide variety of classes, including painting, weaving, stained glass, jewelry making, and pottery in its fully equipped pottery studio. Visitors are invited to explore ever-changing exhibitions showcasing the work of regional artists alongside selections from the Museum’s permanent collection of hand-woven textiles. The Arts Center also hosts special events throughout the year, including the beloved 1000 Islands Art & Craft Festival.
Just around the corner on James St., is the Thousand Islands Museum, home of the Muskie Hall of Fame. The TI Museum is famous for decoys, muskies and the rich heritage of river life. The Museum gallery offers a history of life along the St. Lawrence River from yesteryear and a new archival library is open to the public to research river heritage. You can also learn more about Clayton’s colorful past at the popular “History at Noon” programs. Make sure to check out the St. Lawrence Tartan, the Museum’s trademark. The greens represent the cedars along the shore, the blues are the shades of the St. Lawrence River, and the red signifies the sunset over the islands. Annually, the Museum hosts the Decoy & Wildlife Art Show & Auction. The show includes hunting decoy contests as well as an auction. Works of art by well-known artists from all of the United States and Canada are displayed for purchase.
The Clayton Opera House, located on Riverside Drive, underwent a $3.2 million renovation and now operates as a year-round facility. The 1903 building is air conditioned, fully accessible and offers both performance and banquet facilities for weddings and events. Performances are added regularly to the Opera House schedule and include concerts, films, theatre, dances and lectures.