| An oasis of mature forest and wildlife in the Niagara River, Navy Island
was settled originally by the Lamoka people of the late Archaic Period, 4000 years
ago, and, later, by the Meadowood culture peoples, 3000 years ago. Their arrowheads
and scrapers have been found along the eroding shoreline. During the early influx
of Europeans, the French, who called this place Ile de la Marina, built
four bateaux here which they used to supply their posts on the upper Great Lakes.
Later, the British established a shipyard here, where, from 1761 to 1764,
they built the first vessels to sail the upper Great Lakes under their flag. When
Pontiacs western Indians attacked British outposts following the ceding of New
France, these sailing ships were used to move reinforcements to the upper lakes.
During the War of 1812, the British built a blockhouse and stockade on Navy
Island. A detachment was also stationed here. On December 14, 1837, William Lyon
Mackenzie and 200 supporters seized the island, setting up a provisional government,
constructing batteries and entrenching the blockhouse. The British bombarded the
rebels and they retreated to the American mainline on January 11, 1838. In the
years that followed, many squatters took up residence and farmed here.
In 1875, the Queens Hotel was established. This wood-frame structure was a
popular summer resort until it was destroyed by fire in 1910.
Today, Navy Island has regenerated and healed itself with mature forests.
The Federal Government has leased it to The Niagara Parks Commission since the
1930s.
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