Niagara Falls: History

Pre-20th-Century History

The Falls were formed after glaciers receded at the end of the most recent Ice Age, 10,000 years ago. Water from the Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. The original Niagara Falls were near the sites of present-day Queenston, Ontario and Lewiston, New York, but erosion of their crest caused the waterfalls to retreat several miles southward.

The name Niagara is said to have derived from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra , meaning 'the strait'. Niagara is a simplification of the original. The region's first inhabitants were the Ongiara, an Iroquois tribe named 'the Neutrals' by French settlers.

According to many historians, Franciscan monk and explorer Louis Hennepin became the first explorer to encounter the falls in 1678. Impressed, Hennepin estimated the falls to be an incredible 182m (600ft) high - though in reality they rise 52m (170ft). His discredited claim that he also travelled the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico has cast some doubt over the validity of his writings and sketches of Niagara Falls. There is credible evidence, however, that Reverend Paul Ragueneau visited the falls prior to Hennepin's claim. Ragueneau was a French Jesuit who was working among the Huron First Nation in Canada.

Year by year, more settlers came to Niagara, but it took until 1846 for a village to be formed. In that year, a company was formed to build a bridge across the gorge for the Great Western Railway of Canada. Also in 1846, the Maid of the Mist made its maiden voyage as a ferry, charging a fee to transport people, cargo and mail across the river. When completion of the bridge started to erode business, the Maid became a sightseeing boat, taking visitors close to Horseshoe Falls. In March 1848, for the first time in recorded history, the falls went dry due to strong westerly winds keeping water in Lake Erie, in addition to an ice jam near Buffalo, New York. Townspeople explored the riverbed and the edge of the falls, finding, among other things, relics from the War of 1812.

In the summer of 1859, Jean Francois Gravelet, known as 'the Great Blondin' began a famous series of tightrope walks across the Niagara gorge, over the rapids about a mile downriver from the falls. The act drew crowds as large as 25,000 people. Blondin even managed to carry his manager over the rope on his back.

In 1881, at the request of citizens, the Town of Clifton was changed to the Town of Niagara Falls. On July 15, 1885, the Niagara Reservation State Park opened, attracting 750,000 visitors. It was the first state park established in the United States.

Modern History

In 1904, the Town of Niagara Falls became the City of Niagara Falls. After WWI, tourism began to boom, especially with automobiles providing access to the region.

Anna Edson Taylor, a 43 year old schoolteacher from Michigan gambled on gaining quick fame and fortune with a barrel trip over the thundering Falls on October 24, 1901. Her vessel was a large oak barrel, equipped with a blacksmith's anvil on the bottom to keep it floating upright. Padding was placed all around her, and sufficient air for the trip was pumped into the barrel via a bicycle pump before the lid was carefully screwed on with ordinary wood screws. With her pet kitten inside the barrel with her, the tie rope was severed. The barrel rode through the upper rapids, and within minutes, Taylor passed over the 50m (163ft) high Horseshoe Falls. The barrel disappeared from view into the swirling waters before bobbing to the surface and gradually floating to the Canadian shore where rescuers could reach it. Once released, Taylor emerged quite bruised and shocked, but alive. Her attempt to 'cash in' on the stunt was far from successful. She died in poverty, but for 10 years held the honour of being the only person to have ever gone over the Falls, until the first man attempted it in 1911.

On July 11, 1920, Charles Stephens attempted to go over the falls in a 272kg (600 pound) oak barrel. The force of the water ripped the barrel apart and Stephens was killed. His right arm was the only part of him recovered.

In 1941 the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission completed the Rainbow Bridge, carrying both pedestrian and vehicular traffic between Canada and the US. The population in Niagara Falls increased dramatically in 1963 when the adjacent Township of Stamford amalgamated with the city. With the advent of regional government in 1970, Chippawa, Willoughby Township and a small portion of Crowland Township also became part of Niagara Falls.

Recent History

Niagara Falls remains one of Canada's top tourist destinations, drawing over 13 million people annually. Although there are hundreds of waterfalls that are taller, in terms of sheer volume Niagara Falls are hard to beat. Supplementing the Falls, the city now has a jaw-dropping array of artificial attractions, which - together with the casino, hotels, restaurants and flashing lights - produce a sort of Canadian Las Vegas. The town of Niagara Falls is split into two main sections: the older commercial area, where locals go about their business, and the other, largely tacky (but fun) part around the Falls, which has been developed for visitors. The latter also has pretty green areas that offer some contrast to the built-up tourist area.

An American, Kirk Jones, became the first person in recorded history to survive a trip over the falls unaided during 2003. During his court appearance his brother claimed 'he (Kirk) didn't really have a lot going for him.' The judge agreed and ordered Jones never to return to Canada except for court appearances.

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