Hiawatha Island
& River Front Park

Hiawatha Island, once known as simply Big Island, is rich with history and lore. The island is one of the largest islands in the Susquehanna and is home to many flora and fauna. Although a nature preserve now, in the 1870s the island was converted into a tourist destination by Old Joe. Starting as the Hiawatha Grove with small arbors and a restaurant, later a hotel was founded and operated for 20 years. The spot became a popular destination for riverboat travelers between Owego and Binghamton in the late 19th century.  To increase travel to the island Joe concocted grandiose stories about its history. He often told visitors of Hiawatha the Peacemaker and his great vision on the island. He led people to believe that it was also where the Haudenosaunee created a confederacy. Although some evidence of Haudenosaunee has been seen on the island it is clear it was merely a stopping point, as no large villages were ever founded in the immediate area. Although the significance of the island to the Haudenosaunee was fiction the island still holds a lot of history for the area.