Canandaigua Boathouses

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

“At the beach, life is different. A day moves not from hour to hour but leaps from mood to moment. We go with the currents, plan around the tides and follow the sun." –Sandy Gingras

Canandaigua Lake is one of the Finger Lakes…it’s two lakes west of Ithaca, so we thought we’d check it out on our way home from Toronto. Canandaigua, which means "chosen spot", is a beautiful village on the north end of the lake that is a popular summer destination. The town was first settled in 1791 and by the mid-19th century Canandaigua was an important railroad junction and homeport for several steamboats that operated on the lake. In the 1850’s single wooden boathouses were built along the City Pier and the Steam Basin, where the Steamboats operated. They were originally used to store small boats, produce and farm supplies delivered by the steamboats.

By 1888 over 80 boathouses had been built on the pier. In 1903 the existing boathouses were relocated to the finger piers when the city widened the pier to accommodate the train and trolley tracks needed to service the steamboats. In 1990 the boathouses were designated as historic and are now part of the City of Canandaigua Historic District. With their rustic nature, the boathouses are an attraction for artists, tourists and photographers. They’re a picturesque and unique reminder of the town’s heritage and a popular tourist attraction.