Fourth of July on Hiawatha Island!

Party like it's 1876! This is your chance to be part of Owego's tradition of celebrating the summer on Hiawatha Island!

During the heyday of the Hiawatha House and river commerce on the Susquehanna River, Independence Day on Hiawatha Island was THE party to attend. Starting before the iconic hotel was even completed, residents and visitors alike boarded paddlewheel steamboats near the Court Street Bridge in Owego to travel to the Big Island for revelry and merriment! Our conveyance might look a little different these days, and the trip is considerably shorter, but Hiawatha Island remains a wonderful and alluring destination.

Climb aboard our pontoon boat and enjoy a scenic cruise around Hiawatha Island on the Susquehanna River to get a sense of the island's size and layout! Boat Pilot Steve Brigode will carefully guide the boat down the river while pointing out interesting wildlife features against the beautiful backdrop of the surrounding hillside. The cruise will last approximately 3 hours, depending on wildlife activity, river conditions, and interest level. The boat will stop on the beach of Hiawatha Island for a guided hike with one of our volunteer historians, stopping to eat our lunches at the farmstead site. Learn about the history of the island and its importance to the community and ecosystem.

Our boat is a 24-foot pontoon boat with a capacity of ten guests and two crew. Life preservers are stored under each seat and may be worn during the cruise if desired.

Unfortunately, our boat landing is not accessible from the perspective of those with limited mobility.  There is a concrete walkway that leads down to the riverbank and some traction aids across the muddy bank, ending in a boarding platform.  There is still a bit of a step up onto the boat, but there are handrails to help gain purchase.  On the island side, guests will climb a set of steps up the steep riverbank and hike on the nature preserve's primitive trails which may be uneven, muddy, or grassy. We recommend dressing for the weather, bringing water, sunscreen/insect repellent (depending on the day), and comfortable shoes to negotiate the riverbank's incline. If needed water will be available for purchase on the boat.

The landing is on the western end of Marshland Road.  Our property's entrance is the next driveway on the left after the Town of Owego boat launch and has a "Waterman Center Hiawatha Island and River Front Park" signpost.  It can be easy to miss, so often the easiest way to get there is to copy these coordinates into your GPS choice: 42.083484, -76.202858 or search "Waterman Conservation Education Center Boat Launch" in google maps.