Niagara Falls History - Historic Timeline

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Index Prehistory1600170018001850190019502000

RockandIce
4500millionyearsago TheEarthsoldestrockwasformed.Precambrianrocklayersbeganformingtherstcontinents,includingthe
CanadianShield,whichisthefoundationoftheNorthAmericanContinentinthisregion.

600millionyearsago Abroad,shallowseacoveredtheregionoftheGreatLakes,depositingmud,sand,andsiltacrosstheregionand
buildinguplayersoflimestone(formedfromdepositsofshellsh).

300millionyearsago Upliftbroughtthebedrockabovesealevelandtheinlandseadriesup,leavingtheunderlyingsedimentaslayers
ofsoftrock.ThissameupliftisresponsibleforformingthepeaksoftheAppalachianandAdirondackMountain ranges.

250millionyearsago Riversandstreamsbegancuttingthroughthesoftrockandlimestoneoftheregion,formingmajorriversystems
whichcontinuederodingawaytoformthepreglacialbasins oftheGreatLakes.Erosionsmoothedoutthebumps inthelandscapeofwesternNYandsouthernOntario.

60millionyearsago AseconduplifttiltsrocklayersinthenorthernportionsofNYStatedowntowardsthenorth,
eectivelyreversingthedirectionmanyriversandstreams.Thetiltingofthebedrock exposedmultiplelayersofrock,somesoft,othershard.Quickerosionofthesoftlayers exposesdramaticbands ofthehardrocklayers.Theseprotrusionsareknownas escarpments.NiagaraFallstumblesoveraportionofNiagaraEscarpment.

18,000yearsago Fouriceagesinarowsculpttheland.Withthelast,theWisconsinGlaciationpiling23kilometersoficeontopof
southernOntario.Theglacierscarveoutthebasins oftheGreatLakes.

12,500yearsago Astheglaciersrecede,theNiagaraPeninsulabecomesfreeofice.

ManandWater

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12,000yearsago FloodsofglacialmeltwaterrushfromLakeEriedowntheNiagaraEscarpmentintoLakeIroquois(aprecursorto
LakeOntario),formingseveralwaterfallpathways.Eventuallytheseconcentrateintoone,becomingtheNiagara river.AtthistimeNiagaraFalls wasfurtherdownstreamatpresentdayQueenston,Ontario,andwasasingle cataract.Theregionwasatundrawithsparsespruceforests. Thersthumaninhabitants,nomadichunters calledtheClovis,arrive.(ThePalaeoIndianPeriod).

10,000yearsago TheendofthelasticeagellsLakeOntariowithmeltwater.TheGreatLakessystembeginstodrainintothe
AtlanticOcean.

9,500yearsago Deciduousforestreclaimstheland. 9,000yearsago Livingoofthenewbountifulhabitat,huntergatherersocietiestakeroot.(TheArchaicPeriod). 3,000yearsago DuringwhatisknownastheWoodlandPeriod,inhabitantsprosperedfromagricultureandbeganformingmore

complexsocieties.Theformingofthesetribes alsobroughtwarbetweenthem.

*August,1142 TheIroquoisConfederacyisformedunitingve,oncewarringtribes,underthe
Gayanashagowa(orGreatLawofPeaceTheSenecaNationisthekeeperofthewesterndoor (WesternNY)oftheunitedterritory.TheNeutralNation,whichlayoutsidethefringesofthe IroquoisConfederacy,inhabitedtheshoresofLakeErieandLakeOntariooftheNiagara region.TheFrenchdubbedthistribetheNeutrals,duetotheirrelationshipbetweenthe warringtribesoftheIroquois andtheHuron.

October12,1492 ColumbusndsAmerica. *1500 Geologistsestimatethatroughly500yearsagothefallssplitintotheAmericanandCanadiansegmentsthatwe

havetoday.

EuropeansandWar
Spring,1535 FrenchexplorerJacquesCartierhearsaboutthefallsfromnativesalongtheSt.Lawrenceriver.Hegoesontomap
alargeportionoftheriveranddubbedits shoresCanada.HenevermakesittoNiagaraFalls.

1608 ConsideredthefatherofNewFrance,SamueldeChamplainalsolearnsofNiagaraFalls
whileexploringandmappingtheSt.LawrenceRiver,butnevermakes itthere.Heeventually foundsafurtradingpost,whichhenamedQuebec.Ayearlater,hesailsdowntheRiviere Richelieutoalargelake,whichhenamedafterhimself.

1612 ThedateoftherstmapindicatingtherelativepositionofNiagara.Themapreferstoas
Onguiaahra,theIroquoisnamefortheNeutrals.ThemapwascommissionedbySamuelde Champlain.Niagara,asweknowittoday,istheanglicizedderivativeoftheoriginalword.It is notknownifthepositiononthemapreferstothefalls,thetribeorthetribesland.

1626 Frenchexplorer,tienneBrl,wastherstEuropeantotraveltoalloftheGreatLakeswithanextendedstopin
theNiagararegiontovisittheNeutralNationin1626.Althoughthereis noevidence,itis speculatedthathemay alsohavebeenthersttoseetheFallssincehewassoclose. FrenchmissionaryFatherJosephDeLaRocheDAllionmayalsohaveseenthefallsduringmissionary expeditionstargetedtowards NeutralNationsettlementsintheNiagararegion.

1651 Wagingawarcampaignagainstneighboringtribes,theIroquois(aidedwithrearmsobtainedfromDutch
traders)virtuallywipeouttheNeutralsandtheneighboringEries,wholivedalongtheshoresofLakeErieinthe Niagararegion.

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1652 Throughwar,theSenecaspreadacrosstheNiagararegion,drivingNeutralrefugeestowardAlbany. 1653 TheNeutralsareeitherallkilledorabsorbedintoIroquoistribes. 1666 FrenchexplorerRenRobertCavelier,SieurdeLaSallebrieyvisitsthetheNiagararegion.Thereisnorecord

thathehadseenthefallsatthistime.

December7,1678 DuringanextendedexpeditiontowardsChippawa,RenRobertCavelier,CatholicPriest,
FatherLouisHennepin,LaSalleandtheircrew,heardtherumbleofthefallsandsawthe mistrisingintheairastheypassedthefalls.TheycontinuedontoChippawatoestablishan outpost.

December9,1678 Caveliersexpeditionbacktrackedandlocatedthefalls,wheretheywatchedinamazementfor
thewholeafternoon.FatherLouisHennepin,atalentedillustrator,sketchedthescene.He wroteofthisexperience,describingthefallsas 600feethigh(theyareactually170).Thiswas therstdocumentedcaseofaEuropeanactuallyvisitingthefalls.FatherLouisHennepin alsowentontodiscoverandsketchSaintAnthonyFallsinwhatisnowMinneapolis.

1679 RenRobertCavelierbeginsconstructingFortContiattheeastbankofthemouthoftheNiagaraRiveratLake
Ontario.Itburneddownlaterintheyear.This fortwillevolveovertheyearstobecomeFortNiagara.

1697 FatherLouisHennepinsbookNouvelledcouverte(NewDiscovery)waspublishedinFrance.Featuringhis
originalsketchofNiagaraFalls,aswellasdetaileddescriptionsofthesite,itsparkedtheimaginationsofreaders andencouragedtraveltotheregion.

1699 FatherLouisHennepinsbookfeaturingtherstsketchofNiagaraFallsisprintedinEnglish. 1754 TheFrenchandIndianWarbegins.TheBritish,AmericanColonials,andtheIroquoisNationghttheFrenchand

theirIndianalliesforterritory.FightingtakesplaceacrosstheNiagararegion.

1759 TheEnglish,alongwiththeirIroquoisallies,attackFortNiagara.Aftera20daysiege,aBritisharmyforcedthe
surrenderofFortNiagarafromtheFrenchonJuly26,1759. DanielJoncairs digs asmallditchtopowerhis sawmill.This istherstrecordedinstanceoftheFallsbeingused as asourceofpower.

1721 FirstrecordedinstanceoftheHorseshoeFallsbeingreferredtoashorseshoeshaped. 1763 TheFrenchandIndianWarends.Theresult:theBritishwinsmostofCanada. April19,1775 TheBattleofLexingtonandConcordtakesplacetherstbattleoftheAmericanRevolutionaryWar. 1781 TheBritishestablishButlersburgonthewesternshoreofthemouthoftheNiagaraatLake

Ontario,across fromFortNiagara.ItservesasatradingpostandsafehavenforLoyalists.It is laterincorporatedasthecapitalofUpperCanada(temporarily)andeventuallyisrenamed NiagaraOnTheLake.

September3,1783 TheTreatyofParisendstheRevolutionarywar,buttheNewYorkNiagararegionremainsunderBritishcontrol. February29,1796 TheJayTreatyhandsovercontrolofFortNiagaraandthesurroundinglandtotheUnitedStates. 1801 AnAmericanaristocratTheodosiaBurr(daughterofPresidentAaronBurr)andJosephAlstonhoneymoonin

NiagaraFallsandthusbeginthetraditionoftheNiagarabridaltour.Cabinsandotheraccommodationsbeganto springupinthevicinity.

1804 Althoughevidenceisslim,rumorhasitthatNapoleonsyoungerbrother,JrmeBonaparteandhiswife
honeymoonedatNiagaraFalls.

1805 FormerNewYorkRepresentative,PeterPorterpurchasestheAmericanFallsandsurroundinglandfromthe
UnitedStates.

1812 WarbreaksoutbetweentheAmericansandBritishControlledCanada.Americanleadersassumetheycan
captureCanadaatlittlecost.TheNiagaraRiverandsurroundingregionhostmanybatt lesoverthenext2years. Bualoisburnedtotheground.

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July25,1814 TheAmericanassaultonCanadacametoahaltaftertheBattleofLundysLane,oneofthe
bloodiestbattleseverfoughtonCanadiansoil.Afterasixhourbattle,Americanforces retreatedtoFortErie.TheWarof1812endedshortlyafter.Roughly1,500peopledied. (currentdayLundysLane)

TourismandIndustry
July4,1817 ConstructionbeginsontheErieCanalinRome,NY. 1818 TherstenclosedstairsisbuiltontheCanadiansidefortheprecursortotheJourneyBehind
theFallsatt raction.Itis advertisedastheSheetofFallingWaterandadmissioncosts$1 (equaltoabout$12today).Theattractionwasessentiallyastaircasetothebaseofthefallsat TableRock.

AsmallportionofTableRockfallsintothegorge.(Nocasualties).(photoofoverhang,photo) TheCanadianterritories begindevelopingtouristattractionsandresorts. Americafactoriesandmillsbeginliningtheirsideofthegorge.

1820 Therstferryserviceopened,carryingpassengersacrosstheNiagaragorge,dockingjustbelowmodernday
CliftonHill.Theferryboatwasamanpoweredrowboat.

1824 ConstructionbeginsontheWellandCanalinCanada.ParallelingtheNiagaraRiver,thecanalspurposeisto
createashippingroutethatavoidsNiagaraFalls.7locksareconstructedtotraversetheNiagaraescarpment.

November4,1825 ConstructionisnishedfortheErieCanal.ThenewwaterwayallowsvisitorsfromNewYork
CitytoarriveinBualowithin10days (aswellasthefasttransportofgoodsintheopposite direction).This leadstoaboominboththemillingandtourismindustriesofNiagara.At Lockport,NY,thecanalfeatures aseriesof5locks inordertopasstheNiagaraEscarpment.

1827 TheNiagaraFallsMuseumopensinaformerbreweryinOntario.Thecollectionbeginsasan
assortmentofmountedlocalanimals aswellas NativeAmericanartifacts.Overtheyearsthe museumacquiresnumerous oddities,includingasectionofoneofthelargesttreesevercut down,ahumpbackwhaleskeleton,andnumerousEgyptianartifacts,includingtheremains ofKingRamsesI.

September8,1827 Agroupofentrepreneurs,leadbyWilliamForsythofthePavilionHotel,organizethersttouriststuntatNiagara
falls.TakinganoldlakeschoonerTheMichigan,theydresseditupas apirateshipandstockeditwithferocious animals(reallyabualo,twosmallbears,tworaccoons,adogandagoose).Theshipwassetadriftupstream fromthehorseshoefalls,butbeforeitcouldplummetdownthecataract,thehullsplit openonsomerocksand thebearsescapedtoGoatIsland.Therestoftheanimalswentdownwiththeship.

1829 TheWellandCanalopens,linkingtheeastcoasttothemidwestviathegreatlakes.
TheBiddleStaircasewas openedinNY,allowingpeopletoreachthebaseofBridalVeilFalls andentertheCaveoftheWinds.Admissionwas$1.

October7,1829 DaredevilSamPatch(AKATheYankeeLeaper)fromRhodeIslandwastherstinalong
lineofdaredevilstojumpthehorseshoefalls.HedoveheadrstfromaplatformonGoat Islandforatotalof85feet.Disappointedinthecrowds,10days laterhejumpedagain,from alargerplatformforatotalof135feet.Hesurvived,butdiedlaterthatyearperforminga secondjumpovertheHighFallsinRochester,NY.Readmore:SamPatch,theFamous Jumper

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1832 Anupgraded,spiralstaircaseisconstructedfortheSheetofFallingWaterattraction.
BritishArmyocer,CaptainOgdenCreighton,purchasesthelandsurroundingFerryStreet.Hebeginsplanning thecommunityofClifton,namedafterahillsidesuburb ofLondon.

1833 TheCliftonHotel,therstluxuryaccommodationatNiagaraFalls,wasbuiltattheendofFerryStreet(modern
dayCliftonHill).(photo)

1837 DuringtheUpperCanadaRebellion,WilliamLyonMackenzie,leaderoftherebels,and700
ofhisPatriots,occupiedNavyIsland,callingthemselvesTheRepublicofCanada.The SteamerCaroline,avesselcharteredbyMackenzietorunsupplies,wascaughtbytheBritish, setablazeandrunoverthefalls.Earlyin1838therebellionwascrushedandMackenzieed totheUnitedStates.

1841 TherstrailroadopensinCanadaservingChippawaandQueenston.Tracislimitedtohorsedrawncarriages. May27,1846 MaidoftheMistopensasaferryservicetransportingpeople,horsesandcargoacrossthe

gorge.Thecompanywas namedafterlocallegendaboutanIndianprincesswhocanoedover thefallsandkilledherselftoavoidmarryingamanshedidntlove.Therstshipwasa sidewheelsteamboatwithtwinsmokestacks.Atthetimeitwastheonlydirectrouteacross therivergorge.

1848 TherstsuspensionbridgeisbuiltacrosstheNiagaragorge.Ittakesbusinessawayfromthe
MaidoftheMistferryservice,sotheservicebegins tooerboatridestowards theHorseshoe Falls.Inordertostartconstructionofthebridge,engineers facedthechallengeofrunning therstlineacrossthegorge.FromtheCanadianside,HomanWalshwonacontest sponsoredbytheengineerstosendthatrstlineover.Heusedakite.Crossingthebridge wasfree,returningwas25cents.

March29,1848 Forthersttimeinrecordedhistory,thefallsstoppedowing.Strongwesterlywindspileiceatthemouthofthe
Niagara,nearBualo,dammingthewaterowandbringingtheFalls toatrickle.Residents,wereawakenedinthe nightbytheeeriesilenceandwalkeddowntothefallstoinvestigate.Forroughly30hoursthefallswerejust drippingclis.Itisreportedthattownsfolkexploredthedrybedndingartifactsfromthewarof1812,workers demolishedbouldersthatmadeshipnavigationdicult,andentertainerswerequicktoputonshowsonthe dryingriverbed.

1850 AnoverhangingportionofTableRockfallsintothegorgebelow.Itisestimatedroughly1/3ofthetotalsizehad
beenlost.(Nocasualties).(photo,illustration)

1854 TheQueenston/ChippawarailroadextendstoserveNiagaraFallsandbeginsusingsteamenginesinsteadof
horsedrawncarriages.Upuntilthispointmostvisitors wouldarrivebyboat.

July14,1854 TheNiagaraFallsFerryAssociationpurchasestheMaidoftheMistII,alarger,more
powerfulboat.Itisasinglestackpaddlewheelerwitha17ftbeamandtotallengthof72feet. Withthelaunchofthismoreluxuriousboat,theservicedirectsitsatt entiontowardstourism ratherthanitsdiminishingferryservice.

1855 JohnAugustRoeblingbuildstheNiagaraRailwaySuspensionBridge,therstrailbridgetocrossthegorge.The
arrivalofbetterrailsystemsledtoadrasticdeclineinboattrac.(photo1,photo2)

ThrillsandSpills
Summer1859 FranciscanCharlesBlondin,TheGreatBlondintightropewalksoverthegorgebelowthe
falls.Heutilizesa1,100footlong,3inchdiameterropeextended160highacrossthegorge. StartingattheAmericanside,hecrosseswithrelativeease,makingittotheCanadiansidein 20minutes.Hecrosses8additionaltimes thatsummer,showingoabitmoreeachtime. Theeighthtimehecarriesanotherperson,his manageronhisback.His acts aresopopular,

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theydrawcrowdsupwardsof25,000andinspiregenerations offuturedaredevils.Hesurvives.(photo1,photo2, photo3)

Summer1860 CharlesBlondinreturnsforanotherseriesoftightropestunts.Thistimehetriesonceblindfolded,onceina
burlapsack,stopsforlunchinthemiddleduringonewalk,andonetimepushingawheelbarrowalltheway.He survives.(photo1,photo2)

August15,1860 OntarionativeWilliamLeonardHunt,TheGreatFarinitightropewalksoverthegorgebelow
thefalls.Inspiredbytheearlierwalks oftheGreatBlondin,heshows obystoppingmidway andusingasecondropetolowerhimselfdowntothedeckoftheMaidoftheMist.Aftersipping aglass ofwine,heclimbedbackupandcontinuedhiswalk.Hethenbacktrackedblindfolded withbasketsonhis feet. Forweekshecontinuedtightropewalking,andattemptingtotopBlondinsanticswithhisown. Hecrossedwithamanonhisback,withasackoverhis entirebody,doingsummersaultswhile ontherope,hangingfromitbyhisfeet,andwhiledoinglaundry.

September14,1860 TheFallsareilluminatedforthersttimetocelebratethevisitofthePrinceofWhales.Thelightingusedto
illuminatethefallsarelimelights,requiringnoelectricity.Thecolor:white.

1861 Constructionofacanaltopowermillsandpowerplantsalongthenortherngorgewallnishedandmillsbegan
liningthegorgedownstreamfromtheAmericanFalls.

June6,1861 HavingsoldtheoriginalMaidoftheMisttoaCanadiancompanyandagreeingtodeliverthe
boattoaQueenston,ONdockonLakeOntario,theNiagaraFallsFerryAssociationsends CaptainJoelRobinsonandacrewof2onaperilous3milejourneydowntheNiagararapids, pastthewhirlpool,andthroughtheaptlynamedDevilsHolerapids.Theseareconsidered someofthemostdangerous whitewaterintheworld.Theirreward:$500.Theboatandits crewbarelymakeit.TheMaidoftheMistserviceendsandrowboats provideferryservices.

June15,1865 HarryLeslie,theAmericanBlondintightropewalkstheNiagaraGorgeovertheWhirlpoolRapids.Hesurvives. August25,1869 J.F.ProfessorJenkinsusesabicyclelikecontraptioncalledaVelocipedetocrossatightrope

overtheWhirlpoolRapids.Hesurvives.

August25,1873 EnglishmanSignor(Henry)Bellinitightropewalksoverthegorgebelowthefalls.Hegetshalfwayanddivesto
thewaterbelow,whereaboatwaitstopickhimup.Herepeatsthisstunttwicemorein1873.Hesurvives.(image, photo1,photo2,photo3)

July8,1876 MariaSpelterini,anItalianhighwirewalker,istherst(andonly)womantocrossthe
Niagaragorgeonatightrope.Shecrosseddownstreampastthelowersuspensionbridge, overtheWhirlpoolrapids.Sherepeatedherwalk4moretimesthatsameyear,oncewearing basketsonherfeet,onceblindfolded,andoncewithherfeetandhandsbound.Shesurvived. (photo1,photo2,image3,image4)

June26th1878 CaptainJ.D.Rhodesjumpsfroma90footplatformontheAmericansidenearProspectorsPoint.Hesurvives. 1879 TheFallsareilluminatedforthersttimebyelectricityincelebrationofavisitbyMarquisofLorne,Governor

GeneralofCanadaandhiswifePrincessLouise.

1881 IrishwriterOscarWildecallsNiagaraFalls...abridesseconddisappointment. August10,1881 Batavia,NYnativeDavidMcDowellwalksacrossthegorgebalancingontheouterrailingoftheFallsView

SuspensionBridge.Hesurvivesdespiterumorsthathewasdrunkatthetime.

July24,1883 CaptainMatthewWebb,anaccomplishedBritishsailorandswimmer,attemptstoswimfrom
theMaidoftheMistdocktotheWhirlpoolrapidsfora$2,000prize.Despitebeingtherstto crosstheEnglishChannelwithoutaswimmingaid,hecouldnotconquertheNiagararapids. Hisbodywasrecovereddownstreamfourdayslater.(image)

1885 UnderorderoftheOntarioGovernment,theNiagaraParksCommissionisestablishedtothe
preservethenaturalsceneryaboutNiagaraFalls.TheCommissionbeginsbuyingupland anddemolishingbusinesses tocreatefreespacearoundthefalls.TheCommissionis(and always hasbeen)aselffundedorganizationandisnotfundedbytaxrevenue.

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June13,1885 R.F.CarteandFrankLeBlondinvestinanewsteamer,resurrectingtheMaidoftheMist
att raction.Thepowerfulboatwas70feetlong,madeofwhiteoak,andhadaglassenclosed captainscabin.Theshipwas abletogetclosertotheHorseshoefalls thaneverbefore,and thepopularityoftheatt ractionskyrocketed.TheboatwaschristenedMaidoftheMistI. (photo)

July15,1885 NewYorksNiagaraReservationStateParkisopened,therststateparkintheUS.Itencompasses412acres
(includingProspectParkas wellasGoatandBathIslands).Admissionis free.(map)

July11,1886 CarlisleD.Graham,anEnglishbarrelmakerwhoimmigratedtoPhiladelphiawentthrough
therapidsina5footoakandironbarrelheconstructed.Hesuccessfullyrepeatedthestunt2 moretimes.(photo)

August8,1886 GeorgePottsandWilliamHazlettsuccessfullynavigatetheNiagararapidsinbarrelborrowedfromCarlisleD.
Graham.(photo)

August22nd,1886 FollowinganotherperformanceCarlisleD.Grahamwasunabletorecoverhisbarrelfromthewatersofthe
Whirlpoolrapids.Heoered$10toanyonewhowouldretrieveitforhim.JamesScott jumpedinandneverresurfaced. BostonnativeWilliamKendallsuccessfullyswimstheNiagararapids withnothingbutalife preservermadeofcork.(article,photo)

Winter1886 SignorBellinireturnstoNiagaratojumpfromtheUpperSuspensionBridge.Heseriouslyinjureshimselfandis
rescued.Hesurvives.

1887 OneoftherstelectricstreetcarsystemswasimplementedinNiagaraFalls,ON.Atotalof4electricrailsystems
wouldbeimplementedoverthenext13years.Astheautomobilebecamemorepopular,thestreetcarsbeganto struggleandeventuallyfailed. TheSheetofFallingWaterspiralstaircaseisreplacedwithahydraulicelevator. Circus performerandBlenheim,OntarionativeCharles Cromwellsuccessfullycrossesthegorgeonatightrope. Hereturns in1890todoitagain.Hesurvives.

June22,1887 StephenPeer,inspiredbyBlondin,seeksbecomingtherstlocalresidenttowalkacrossthe
gorgeonatightrope.AfterworkingasanassistanttoSignorBellini,hemakesarstattempt usingBellinisownequipment,whichsupposedlydroveBellinimadmadenoughtotryto cuttheropeandsendPeerplummeting.SpectatorscaughtBellinianddrovehimoutoftown. TwodayslaterPeerwasfounddeadatthebottomofthegorge.Itwasspeculatedthataftera nightofdrinkingwithbuddies,hedecidedtogiveitagoandfelltohisdeath.(photo1, photo2,photo3,photo4)

May24,1888 TheNiagaraParksCommissioninOntarioopenstherstrecreationalarea,namedforQueenVictoria.Therst
parkencompasses154acresandwouldgrowovertheyearstobeanextensivesystemofparks(4,250acres totalas of2008).(map)

1889 ThersttunnelsweredugfortheSheetofFallingWaterattraction.Visitorswouldbeguidedthroughvialantern
light.

September15,1889 Youngstown,NYnativeWalterG.CampbellsetsoutfromtheMaidoftheMistdocinsmallwoodenrowboatwith
justanoar,twolifepreservers,andhisdogJumbo.Hisboatwascrushedeasilybytheriverrapidsandheandhis dogwerethrownoverboard.CarrieddownstreamtotheWhirlpool,hewas abletoswimtotheCanadianshore andawaitarescue.Jumbodidnotsurvive.(article)

September6,1890 TorontonativeSamuelJ.DixontightropewalksovertheWhirlpoolrapids.HereturnsinJulyofthenextyearto
doitagain.Hesurvives.

1892 WilliamT.Love,whoownedalargeportionoflandalongtheeastsideofthefalls,begandiggingacanalto
surpassthefalls.Thecanalwastobethefoundationforadreamcommunitywheretherushingwatersofthe canalwouldprovidenearbybusinessesandhomes continuous,cheappower. ThefourthMaidislaunched:christenedMaidoftheMistII.Theshipisan89footlong steamermadeofwhiteoak,witha19footbeamanddualengines.

March17,1892 ThecityofNiagaraFalls,NYisincorporated.

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May,1892 TheAmericanFallsareilluminatedforthersttimeincolorbytheMaidoftheMistoperatorsandthetradition
ofregularlylightingthefalls began.

October12,1892 OntarionativeCliordCalverlysetsthespeedrecordforcrossingthegorgeonatightrope.Therecord:2minutes,
thirtytwoseconds.Atenthofthespeeditusuallytakes.Hesurvivestomakeseveralmoresuccessfulcrossings. DubbedtheAmericanBlondinhereenactsmanyofthestunts performedbytheoriginalBlondin.

1892 AsmallpowerplantisbuiltabovetheHorseshoeFallstogenerateDCcurrenttorunanelectrictrainservice.This
is thersttimethepowerofNiagaraFalls isusedtogenerateelectricity.

July1,1896 Atage21,TorontonativeJamesE.HardybecomestheyoungestpersontocrosstheNiagaraRivergorge.
Throughoutthesummerhemakes15morecrossings.Hesurvives.

April3,1897 CalverlysassistantD.H.MacDonaldalsocompletesaacrossingusingCalverlysequipment. September7,1901 MaudeWillardattemptstotraversetheNiagararapidswithherdoginCarlisleGrahamsbarrelasCarlisle

himselfswamalong,Maudes dogjammedhismuzzlethroughtheonlyairhole.Shesuocated,thedogand Grahamsurvived.

October24,1901 BayCity,38yearoldBayCity,MichiganschoolteacherAnnieEdsonTaylorbecametherst
persontorideabarreloverthefalls.Shediditina4foottalloakandsteelbarrelwithan anvilballast.Afterresurfacing,sheremainedtrappedintheNiagarauntilshedriftedtoa spotsuitableforrecovery.Althoughbangedup,shesurvived,utt eringnobodyoughteverdo thatagainassheemergedfromthebarrel.(photo1,photo2,photo3)

June12,1903 ThecityofNiagaraFalls,ONisincorporated.

PowerandWaste
1905 TheOntarioPowerCompanybeginsdrawingwaterfromtheNiagaraupstreamfromthe
HorseshoeFallstorunthroughitsPowerstationlocatedatthebaseoftheFalls.Theplant wasdecommissionedin1999inordertomakewayforCasinoNiagara,whichwasbuiltuphill wherethepowerstationstransformerswerelocated.Plantbuildingsabovethegorgenow houselightingxturesfortheilluminationofthefalls.(map1,map2,photo1,photo2,photo3, photo4).

January1,1905 CanadianNiagaraPowerCompanybegangeneratingelectricityfromitsRankineGenerating
Station,thersthydroelectricgeneratingstationtobebuiltontheCanadiansideofthe NiagaraRiver.TheintakefortheplantislocateddirectlyabovetheHorseshoeFalls.Many otherplantsfollow,makingmoreandmorewaterbypassthefallsandowthroughtunnels andturbines.(aerial1,aerial2,photo1)

November21,1906 TheElectricalDevelopmentCompanyofOntariobeginsdrawingwaterfromtheNiagara
upstreamfromtheHorseshoeFallstorunthroughits137,500hpelectricalgeneratingplant (TheTorontoPowerPlant).Theplantisdecommissionedin1974andisnowpartofQueen VictoriaPark.(map,illustration1,illustration2,photo1)

1910 Advancementsinalternatingcurrentmadethelongdistancetransferofelectricityarealityandtheneedfor
theWilliamT.LovesCanalwaned.Planswereabandonedandonlyaditchremained.

June25,1911 OscarWilliams(Wilson)performstheSlideforLife.Heplannedonslidingacrossthegorgeusingaleatherstrap
strungacrossawirespanningthegorge.Hewouldhangonwithhisteeth.Thestuntfailedbecausethewire wasnttightenoughandhisweightcauseditasagashearriveatthemiddle.Hewas stuckthereforahalfhour untilaropewas usedtolowerhimtothedeckoftheMaidoftheMistbelow. Hesurvived.

July25,1911 EnglishcircusperformerBobbyLeachgoesoverthefallsinaneightfootsteelbarrel.The
barrelgets stuckinawhirlpoolatthebaseofthefallsfor20oddminutes untilrescued.He survives,butbreaks bothhis kneesandhisjaw.Havingpreviouslyparachutedfromthe UpperSuspensionBridgeandtraversedtheNiagaraRapids inabarrelseveraltimes,he

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returnstoparachuteoverthefalls fromaplane(twice).Ironically,attheageof70hediesasa resultofinjuriesfromslippingonanorangepeel.(photo1,photo2,photo3)

1916 WhirlpoolAeroCarattractionopens.DesignedbyaSpanishengineerLeonardoTorresQuevedo,thiscablecar
runsacross6steelcablesontheCanadiansideofthewhirlpoolbendoftheNiagaragorge.

August6,1918 Duringadredgingoperationupstreamfromthefalls,ascow(barge)thatwasbeingusedto
haulsandgetsstuckonrocksorsandandthelinesnaps,disconnectingitfromits hauling tugboat.DeckhandsGustaveLoftberg(age51)andFrankHarris (age53)wereaboard.The bargequicklyoateddownstreamheadingfortheHorseshoeFalls.Luckily,thebarge becamestuckonagroupingofrocksjust2,500feetupstreamfromthefalls.Amassive rescueeortwaslaunchedtoretrievethemenbeforethebargebecamedislodgedduetothe turbulentrapids.Afterseveralhours,crewswereabletoextendalineandpullthetwomentoshore.Theremains ofthebargearestillthere,lodgedonthesamerocksabovetheHorseshoeFalls.(aerial1,aerial2,photo1,photo2, photo3)

1920 WilliamT.LoveslandandfailedcanalweresoldtotheCityofNiagaraFallstobeusedasalandllforchemical
wastedisposal. NiagaraFallswasdubbedBabyCityasitwas thoughtthatmorebabieswereconceivedin thiscitythananyother. TourisminNiagaraFallsOntarioincreasesinthe1920s andmanymodernatt ractionsaswell as makeshifttouristcampsareerected.

July11,1920 Britishbarberandamateurstuntperformer,CharlesStephens(DemonBarberofBristol),
becomesthethirdpersontogooverthefalls.DespiteadvicefromveteranBobbyLeach, Stephenschosetoskipsomesafetymeasuresandplanappropriatelyforthestunt.He strappedhisarmstotheinsidesofhislargeRussianoakbarrel,andananviltohisfeetas ballast.As thebarrelhitthepoolbelowthefalls,theforceoftheimpactsentStephens crashingthroughthebarrelsbott omandtodeathbydrowning.Thebarrelshatteredandall thatwasrecoveredwerewoodenpieces andStephensrightarm.(photo1,photo2)

September6,1920 ArockfallwithintheCaveoftheWindskills3.Multipleinjuriesreported. 1926 TheTableRockHouseoftodaywaserectedbyNiagaraParksCommission.Itservedasastartingpointforthe

ScenicTunnels,asnackbar,souvenirshop,washanddressingrooms.

July4,1928 Springeld,Massachusettsresident(originallyfromQuebec)JeanLussierattemptsgoing
overthefalls.ChallengedbythetragedyofCharles Stephens8yearsagoheexploresusinga craftotherthanasteelorwoodenbarrel.HecontractstheOhioRubberCompanytobuilda6 foot(diameter)rubberball,linedwithinnertubesandbalancedtooatrightsideup. Learningfromprevious daredevilsmistakes,hedevisesasystemofpumpsandtanksto storeextraoxygenincaseheistrappedunderthefallsorhastoawaitrescue.Theballtakes minordamageandhesurviveswithnomajorinjuries.Forseveralyearshemakesalivingsellingpiecesofhis successfulcraft.Afterrunningoutofthefamedrubber,hestartssellingscraprubberinits place.(photo1,photo2, photo3,photo4)

July4,1930 Inhopesofraisingmoneyandawarenesstopublishabookonmetaphysicalexperiences,
GreekimmigrantandBualo,NYchefGeorgeStathakisandhis petturtlegooverthefallsin amassive2,000poundwoodandsteelbarrel.Thebarrelgetstrappedbehindthefallsandis pummeledbythecurtainofwaterfornearly22hours.Bythetimerescuersgottohimhewas dead.Itwasassumedthathesurvivedtheplunge,buthisbarrelonlyheldenoughairfor8 hours.His petturtlesurvived.Niagaradaredevilstunts wouldrundryfor21yearsafterward. (photo1,photo2,photo3)

May25,1931 NiagaraFalls,ONnativeWilliamRedHillSr.nishesatrioofNiagararapidsventureswith
analtripintheverysamebarrelGeorgeStathakis diedin.WilliamRedHillSr.wascalled theMasterHeroofNiagara,andwas consideredanexpertoftheriversrapids.Hewas famedthroughoutOntarioforsinglehandedlysavingthelivesofatotalof28drowning individuals intheNiagaraRiver.Histhirdandnaltripdowntherapidsnearlyended tragicallyasStathakiscursedbarrelsprungaleakandbecamestuckwithinthevortex Whirlpoolrapids.Hisson,WilliamHillJr.,witharopetiedaroundhiswaist,doveintosavehisfather.Theyboth survived.(photo1,photo2)

1933 RipleysOdditoriumattractsover2millionvisitorsattheChicagoWorldsFair. 1936 EnrollmentbeganfortheOntarioSchoolforApprenticeGardeners,whicheventuallybecametheSchoolof

Horticulture/BotanicalGardensandButteryConservatory.Thestudentsareresponsibleformaintainingthe schoolgrounds.

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* Probable Date Images are copyright their respective owners. Thumbnails are used for linking purposes only and NYfalls.com does not claim ownership of the thumbnails. Sources: Wikipedia, the Niagara Falls, ON and NY public libraries, Niagara Parks Commission, NY State Parks. See a missing event? Letusknowaboutit. Specialthanks

SpecialthankstoKellyLuceroforeditingthisandtoMike&BrendaNevilleandMarkJohnsonfortheirhelpputtingitalltogether.

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