Gateway to the Continent

—Maritime History —

Where the Lake Turns Aside. This is the meaning of the Native American word from which the name Irondequoit was derived. Native people used the bay for access to the lake. Explorers hoped that it led to China. For early traders and merchants it became a crossroad for commerce. The bay was the gateway from Lake Ontario to water routes to the interior of the continent. René Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle. This Frenchman explored the bay while looking for the Ohio Trail, hoping it would lead to a water route to the Orient. Louis Thomas de Juncaire. A French merchant, built a fur trading post "Fort de Sables" at the lake shore. French Governor Denonville led a military-style invasion aimed at punishing the Senecas, but succeeded only in making enemies. Falls and the gorge block connection to the lake along the Genesee River. Seneca Tribe Members. Native Americans fished, hunted, and traveled through the bay for centuries. They developed an extensive network of trails and portages between the lake and their inland villages, and from the bay to the Genesee River. How Could Such a Small River Cut This Huge Bay? 1| The Danville River once flowed through here before glaciers advanced across the area. It was this large river that cut the bay. 2|
Danville River dammed by glacial deposits. 3| Flow diverted to Genesee River channel. 4| Rising post-glacial lake floods the ancient valley. 5| Irondequoit Creek drains into remnant valley. Arrivals1788- American Oliver Phelps acquires title to the bay. 1741- English buy the bay from the Senecas. 1721- English build Fory Schuyler. 1717- Fort de Sables built by French as a trading post. 1687- Denonville's attack. 1679- Las Salle's third visit. Father Hennepin builds chapel. 1678- La Salle's second visit. 1669- La Salle explores the bay the first time. 1612- Bay appears on Champlain's map. 1610- Etienne Brule first European to see the bay. Inlets along the Seaway Trail coast were explored as possible water routes to the interior of the continent.

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Irondequoit Bay
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