New York State has purchased Horse Island, located near the Village of Sackets Harbor, where a battle was fought between British and American forces in May, 1813 during the War of 1812. The island will become part of the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Park, which is located in Jefferson County.
Sackets Harbor became an important shipyard for the United States during the War of 1812. In May, 1813, British and Canadian forces initially assaulted Horse Island when they began their attack on the shipyard located in Sackets Harbor. The British eventually took the island only to be turned away later in the day.
New York State was able to purchase the island, which cost $820,000, through a federal grant obtained by the American Battlefield Trust. It's nice to see a piece of American History, located in our own backyard, being preserved for future Central New Yorkers to enjoy!