niagara falls history - historic timeline
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7/27/2019 Niagara Falls History - Historic Timeline
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Prehistory 1600 1700 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
RockandIce
4500millionyearsago TheEarthsoldestrockwasformed.Precambrianrocklayersbeganformingthefirstcontinents,includingtheCanadianShield,whichisthefoundationoftheNorthAmericanContinentinthisregion.
600millionyearsago Abroad,shallowseacoveredtheregionoftheGreatLakes,depositingmud,sand,andsiltacrosstheregionandbuildinguplayersoflimestone (formedfromdepositsofshellfish).
300millionyearsago Upliftbroughtthebedrockabovesealevelandtheinlandseadriesup,leavingtheunderlyingsedimentaslayersofsoftrock.ThissameupliftisresponsibleforformingthepeaksoftheAppalachianandAdirondackMountainranges.
250millionyearsago Riversandstreamsbegancutingthroughthesoftrockandlimestone oftheregion,formingmajorriversystemswhichcontinuederodingawaytoformthepreglacialbasins oftheGreatLakes.ErosionsmoothedoutthebumpsinthelandscapeofwesternNYandsouthernOntario.
60millionyearsago Aseconduplifttiltsrocklayersinthenorthernportions ofNYStatedowntowardsthenorth,effectivelyreversingthedirectionmanyriversandstreams.Thetiltingofthebedrockexposedmultiplelayersofrock,somesoft,othershard.Quickerosionofthesoftlayersexposesdramaticbandsofthehardrocklayers.Theseprotrusions areknownasescarpments.NiagaraFallstumblesoveraportionofNiagaraEscarpment.
18,000yearsago Fouriceagesinarowsculpttheland.Withthelast,theWisconsinGlaciationpiling23kilometersoficeontopofsouthernOntario.Theglacierscarveoutthebasins oftheGreatLakes.
12,500yearsago Astheglaciersrecede,theNiagaraPeninsulabecomes freeofice.
ManandWater
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12,000yearsago FloodsofglacialmeltwaterrushfromLakeEriedowntheNiagaraEscarpmentintoLakeIroquois(aprecursortoLakeOntario),formingseveralwaterfallpathways.Eventuallytheseconcentrate intoone,becomingtheNiagarariver.AtthistimeNiagaraFallswasfurtherdownstreamatpresentdayQueenston,Ontario,andwasasinglecataract.Theregionwasatundrawithsparsespruceforests.
Thefirsthumaninhabitants,nomadichunters calledtheClovis,arrive.(ThePalaeoIndianPeriod).
10,000yearsago TheendofthelasticeagefillsLakeOntariowithmeltwater.TheGreatLakessystembegins todrainintotheAtlanticOcean.
9,500yearsago Deciduousforestreclaimstheland.
9,000yearsago Livingoffofthenewbountifulhabitat,huntergatherersocieties takeroot.(TheArchaicPeriod).
3,000yearsago Duringwhatisknownasthe WoodlandPeriod, inhabitantsprosperedfromagricultureandbeganformingmorecomplexsocieties. Theformingofthese tribes alsobroughtwarbetweenthem.
*August,1142 TheIroquoisConfederacyisformed unitingfive,oncewarringtribes,undertheGayanashagowa(or GreatLawofPeace TheSenecaNationisthekeeperofthewesterndoor(WesternNY)oftheunitedterritory.TheNeutralNation,whichlayoutsidethefringesoftheIroquoisConfederacy,inhabitedtheshoresofLakeErieandLakeOntariooftheNiagararegion.TheFrenchdubbedthistribethe Neutrals, duetotheirrelationship betweenthewarringtribesoftheIroquois andtheHuron.
October12,1492 ColumbusfindsAmerica.
*1500 Geologistsestimatethatroughly500yearsagothefallssplitintotheAmericanandCanadiansegments thatwehavetoday.
EuropeansandWar
Spring,1535 FrenchexplorerJacquesCartierhearsaboutthefallsfromnativesalongtheSt.Lawrenceriver.Hegoesontomapalargeportionoftheriveranddubbeditsshores Canada. HenevermakesittoNiagaraFalls.
1608
Consideredthe fatherofNewFrance, SamueldeChamplainalsolearnsofNiagaraFallswhileexploringandmappingtheSt.LawrenceRiver,butnevermakesitthere.Heeventuallyfoundsafurtradingpost,whichhenamedQuebec.Ayearlater,hesailsdowntheRiviereRichelieutoalargelake,whichhenamedafterhimself.
1612 ThedateofthefirstmapindicatingtherelativepositionofNiagara.ThemapreferstoasOnguiaahra, theIroquois namefortheNeutrals.ThemapwascommissionedbySamueldeChamplain.Niagara,asweknowittoday,istheanglicizedderivativeoftheoriginalword.Itisnotknownifthepositiononthemapreferstothefalls,thetribeorthetribesland.
1626 Frenchexplorer,tienneBrl,wasthefirstEuropeantotraveltoalloftheGreatLakeswithanextendedstopintheNiagararegiontovisittheNeutralNationin1626. Althoughthereisnoevidence, itisspeculatedthathemayalsohavebeen thefirsttoseetheFallssincehewassoclose.
FrenchmissionaryFatherJosephDeLaRocheDAllionmayalsohaveseenthefallsduringmissionaryexpeditionstargetedtowardsNeutralNationsetlementsintheNiagararegion.
1651 Wagingawarcampaignagainstneighboringtribes,theIroquois(aidedwithfirearmsobtainedfromDutchtraders)virtuallywipeouttheNeutralsandtheneighboringEries,wholivedalongtheshoresofLakeErieintheNiagararegion.
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1652 Throughwar,theSenecaspreadacrosstheNiagararegion,drivingNeutralrefugeestowardAlbany.
1653 TheNeutralsareeitherallkilledorabsorbedintoIroquois tribes.
1666 FrenchexplorerRenRobertCavelier,SieurdeLaSallebrieflyvisitsthetheNiagararegion.Thereisnorecordthathehadseenthefallsatthistime.
December7,1678 DuringanextendedexpeditiontowardsChippawa,RenRobertCavelier,CatholicPriest,FatherLouisHennepin,LaSalleandtheircrew,heardtherumbleofthefallsandsawthemistrisingintheairastheypassedthefalls.TheycontinuedontoChippawatoestablishan
outpost.
December9,1678 Caveliersexpeditionbacktrackedandlocatedthefalls,wheretheywatchedinamazementforthewholeafternoon. FatherLouisHennepin,atalentedillustrator,sketchedthescene.Hewroteofthisexperience,describingthefallsas600feethigh(theyareactually170).ThiswasthefirstdocumentedcaseofaEuropeanactuallyvisitingthefalls.FatherLouisHennepinalsowentonto discover andsketchSaintAnthonyFallsinwhatisnowMinneapolis.
1679 RenRobertCavelierbeginsconstructingFortContiattheeastbankofthemouthoftheNiagaraRiveratLakeOntario.It burneddownlaterintheyear.ThisfortwillevolveovertheyearstobecomeFortNiagara.
1697 FatherLouisHennepinsbookNouvelle dcouverte(NewDiscovery) waspublishedinFrance.FeaturinghisoriginalsketchofNiagaraFalls,aswellasdetaileddescriptions ofthesite,itsparkedtheimaginationsofreadersandencouragedtraveltotheregion.
1699 FatherLouisHennepinsbookfeaturingthefirstsketchofNiagaraFallsisprintedinEnglish.
1754 TheFrenchandIndianWarbegins. TheBritish,AmericanColonials,andtheIroquois NationfighttheFrenchandtheirIndianalliesforterritory.FightingtakesplaceacrosstheNiagararegion.
1759 TheEnglish,alongwiththeirIroquois allies,atackFortNiagara.Aftera20daysiege,aBritisharmyforcedthesurrenderofFortNiagarafromtheFrenchonJuly26,1759.
DanielJoncairs digsasmallditchtopowerhissawmill.Thisisthefirstrecordedinstance oftheFallsbeingusedasasourceofpower.
1721 Firstrecordedinstance oftheHorseshoeFallsbeingreferredtoashorseshoeshaped.
1763 TheFrenchandIndianWarends.Theresult:theBritishwinsmostofCanada.
April19,1775 TheBatleofLexingtonandConcordtakesplace thefirstbatleoftheAmericanRevolutionaryWar.
1781 TheBritishestablishButlersburgonthewesternshoreofthemouthoftheNiagaraatLakeOntario,acrossfromFortNiagara.ItservesasatradingpostandsafehavenforLoyalists.ItislaterincorporatedasthecapitalofUpperCanada(temporarily)andeventuallyisrenamedNiagaraOnTheLake.
September3,1783 TheTreatyofParisendstheRevolutionarywar,buttheNewYorkNiagararegionremainsunderBritishcontrol.
February29,1796 TheJayTreatyhandsovercontrolofFortNiagaraandthesurroundinglandtotheUnitedStates.
1801 AnAmericanaristocratTheodosiaBurr(daughterofPresidentAaronBurr)andJosephAlstonhoneymoonin
NiagaraFallsandthusbeginthetraditionoftheNiagarabridaltour.Cabinsandotheraccommodationsbegantospringupinthevicinity.
1804 Althoughevidenceisslim,rumorhasitthatNapoleonsyoungerbrother, JrmeBonaparteandhiswifehoneymoonedatNiagaraFalls.
1805 FormerNewYorkRepresentative,PeterPorterpurchasestheAmericanFallsandsurroundinglandfromtheUnitedStates.
1812 WarbreaksoutbetweentheAmericansandBritishControlledCanada.AmericanleadersassumetheycancaptureCanadaatlitlecost.TheNiagaraRiverandsurroundingregionhostmanybatlesoverthenext2years.Buffaloisburnedtotheground.
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July25,1814 TheAmericanassaultonCanadacametoahaltaftertheBatleofLundysLane,oneofthebloodiest batleseverfoughtonCanadiansoil.Afterasixhourbatle,AmericanforcesretreatedtoFortErie.TheWarof1812endedshortlyafter.Roughly1,500peopledied.(currentdayLundysLane)
TourismandIndustry
July4,1817 Constructionbegins ontheErieCanalinRome,NY.
1818 ThefirstenclosedstairsisbuiltontheCanadiansidefortheprecursortotheJourneyBehindtheFallsatraction.It isadvertisedasthe SheetofFallingWater andadmissioncosts$1(equaltoabout$12today).TheatractionwasessentiallyastaircasetothebaseofthefallsatTableRock.
AsmallportionofTableRockfallsintothegorge.(Nocasualties).(photoofoverhang,photo)
TheCanadianterritories begindevelopingtouristatractionsandresorts.Americafactories andmillsbeginliningtheirsideofthegorge.
1820 Thefirstferryserviceopened,carryingpassengers acrosstheNiagaragorge,dockingjustbelowmoderndayCliftonHill.Theferryboatwasamanpoweredrowboat.
1824 Constructionbegins ontheWellandCanalinCanada.ParallelingtheNiagaraRiver,thecanalspurposeistocreateashippingroutethatavoidsNiagaraFalls.7locksareconstructedtotraversetheNiagaraescarpment.
November4,1825 ConstructionisfinishedfortheErieCanal.ThenewwaterwayallowsvisitorsfromNewYorkCitytoarriveinBuffalowithin10days(aswellasthefasttransportofgoodsintheopposite
direction).ThisleadstoaboominboththemillingandtourismindustriesofNiagara. AtLockport,NY,thecanalfeaturesaseriesof5locksinordertopasstheNiagaraEscarpment.
1827 TheNiagaraFallsMuseumopensinaformerbreweryinOntario.Thecollectionbegins asanassortmentofmountedlocalanimalsaswellasNativeAmericanartifacts.Overtheyearsthemuseumacquiresnumerousoddities,includingasectionofoneofthelargesttreesevercutdown,ahumpbackwhaleskeleton,andnumerousEgyptianartifacts,includingtheremainsofKingRamsesI.
September8,1827 Agroupofentrepreneurs, leadbyWilliamForsythofthePavilionHotel,organizethefirsttouriststuntatNiagarafalls.Takinganoldlakeschooner TheMichigan, theydresseditupasapirateshipandstockeditwith ferociousanimals (reallyabuffalo,twosmallbears,tworaccoons,adogandagoose).Theshipwassetadriftupstreamfromthehorseshoefalls,butbefore itcouldplummetdownthecataract,thehullsplitopenonsomerocksandthebearsescapedtoGoatIsland.Therestoftheanimalswentdownwiththeship.
1829 TheWellandCanalopens,linkingtheeastcoasttothemidwestviathegreatlakes.
TheBiddleStaircasewasopenedinNY,allowingpeopletoreachthebaseofBridalVeilFallsandentertheCaveoftheWinds. Admissionwas$1.
October7,1829 DaredevilSamPatch(AKA TheYankeeLeaper)fromRhodeIslandwasthefirstinalonglineofdaredevilstojumpthehorseshoefalls.HedoveheadfirstfromaplatformonGoatIslandforatotalof85feet.Disappointedinthecrowds,10dayslaterhejumpedagain,fromalargerplatformforatotalof135feet.Hesurvived,butdiedlaterthatyearperformingasecondjumpovertheHighFallsinRochester,NY.Readmore:SamPatch,theFamousJumper
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1832 Anupgraded,spiralstaircaseisconstructedforthe SheetofFallingWater atraction.
BritishArmyofficer,CaptainOgdenCreighton,purchasesthelandsurroundingFerryStreet.HebeginsplanningthecommunityofClifton,namedafterahillsidesuburb ofLondon.
1833 TheCliftonHotel,thefirst luxury accommodationatNiagaraFalls,wasbuiltattheendofFerryStreet(moderndayCliftonHill).(photo)
1837 DuringtheUpperCanadaRebellion,WilliamLyonMackenzie,leaderoftherebels,and700ofhis Patriots ,occupiedNavyIsland,callingthemselves TheRepublicofCanada. TheSteamerCaroline,avesselcharteredbyMackenzietorunsupplies,wascaughtbytheBritish,
setablazeandrunoverthefalls.Earlyin1838therebellionwascrushedandMackenziefledtotheUnitedStates.
1841 ThefirstrailroadopensinCanadaservingChippawaandQueenston.Trafficislimitedtohorsedrawncarriages.
May27,1846 MaidoftheMistopensasaferryservicetransportingpeople,horsesandcargoacrossthegorge.ThecompanywasnamedafterlocallegendaboutanIndianprincess whocanoedoverthefallsandkilledherselftoavoidmarryingamanshedidntlove.Thefirstshipwasasidewheelsteamboatwithtwinsmokestacks.Atthetimeitwastheonlydirectrouteacrosstherivergorge.
1848 Thefirstsuspension bridgeisbuiltacrosstheNiagaragorge.Ittakesbusiness awayfromtheMaidoftheMistferryservice,sotheservicebegins toofferboatridestowardstheHorseshoeFalls.In ordertostartconstructionofthebridge,engineers facedthechallengeofrunningthefirstlineacrossthegorge.FromtheCanadianside,HomanWalshwonacontestsponsoredbytheengineerstosendthatfirstlineover.Heusedakite.Crossingthebridgewasfree,returningwas25cents.
March29,1848 Forthefirsttimeinrecordedhistory,thefallsstoppedflowing.StrongwesterlywindspileiceatthemouthoftheNiagara,nearBuffalo,dammingthewaterflowandbringingtheFallstoatrickle.Residents,wereawakenedinthenightbytheeeriesilenceandwalkeddowntothefallstoinvestigate.Forroughly30hoursthefallswerejustdrippingcliffs.It isreportedthattownsfolkexploredthedrybedfindingartifactsfromthewarof1812,workersdemolishedbouldersthatmadeshipnavigationdifficult,andentertainers werequicktoputonshowsonthedryingriverbed.
1850 AnoverhangingportionofTableRockfallsintothegorgebelow.It isestimatedroughly1/3ofthetotalsizehadbeenlost.(Nocasualties).(photo,illustration)
1854 TheQueenston/ChippawarailroadextendstoserveNiagaraFallsandbegins usingsteamenginesinsteadof
horse
drawn
carriages.
Up
until
this
point
most
visitors
would
arrive
by
boat.
July14,1854 TheNiagaraFallsFerryAssociationpurchasestheMaidoftheMistII ,alarger,morepowerfulboat.It isasinglestackpaddlewheelerwitha17ftbeamandtotallengthof72feet.Withthelaunchofthismoreluxuriousboat,theservicedirectsitsatentiontowardstourismratherthanitsdiminishingferryservice.
1855 JohnAugustRoeblingbuildstheNiagaraRailwaySuspension Bridge,thefirstrailbridgetocrossthegorge.Thearrivalofbeterrailsystemsledtoadrasticdeclineinboattraffic.(photo1,photo2)
ThrillsandSpills
Summer1859 FranciscanCharlesBlondin, TheGreatBlondin tightropewalksoverthegorgebelowthefalls.Heutilizesa1,100footlong,3inchdiameterropeextended160highacrossthegorge.StartingattheAmericanside,hecrosseswithrelativeease,makingittotheCanadiansidein20minutes.Hecrosses8additionaltimesthatsummer,showingoffabitmoreeachtime.Theeighthtimehecarriesanotherperson,hismanageronhisback. Hisactsaresopopular,
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theydrawcrowdsupwardsof25,000andinspiregenerations offuturedaredevils.Hesurvives.(photo1,photo2,photo3)
Summer1860 CharlesBlondinreturnsforanotherseriesoftightropestunts. Thistimehetriesonceblindfolded,onceinaburlapsack,stopsforlunchinthemiddleduringonewalk,andonetimepushingawheelbarrowalltheway.Hesurvives.(photo1,photo2)
August15,1860 OntarionativeWilliamLeonardHunt, TheGreatFarini tightropewalksoverthegorgebelowthefalls.InspiredbytheearlierwalksoftheGreatBlondin,heshowsoffbystoppingmidwayandusingasecondropetolowerhimselfdowntothedeckoftheMaidoftheMist.Aftersippingaglassofwine,heclimbedbackupandcontinuedhiswalk.Hethenbacktrackedblindfoldedwithbaskets onhisfeet.Forweekshecontinuedtightropewalking,andatemptingtotopBlondinsanticswithhisown.Hecrossedwithamanonhisback,withasackoverhisentirebody,doingsummersaultswhileontherope,hangingfromitbyhisfeet,andwhile doinglaundry.
September14,1860 TheFallsareilluminatedforthefirsttimetocelebratethevisitofthePrinceofWhales.Thelightingusedtoilluminatethefallsarelimelights,requiringnoelectricity.Thecolor:white.
1861 ConstructionofacanaltopowermillsandpowerplantsalongthenortherngorgewallfinishedandmillsbeganliningthegorgedownstreamfromtheAmericanFalls.
June6,1861 HavingsoldtheoriginalMaidoftheMisttoaCanadiancompanyandagreeingtodelivertheboattoaQueenston,ONdockonLakeOntario,theNiagaraFallsFerryAssociationsendsCaptainJoel Robinsonandacrewof2onaperilous3milejourneydowntheNiagararapids,
pastthewhirlpool,andthroughtheaptlynamedDevilsHolerapids.Theseareconsideredsomeofthemostdangerouswhitewaterintheworld.Theirreward:$500.Theboatanditscrewbarelymakeit.TheMaidoftheMistserviceendsandrowboatsprovideferryservices.
June15,1865 HarryLeslie, theAmericanBlondin tightropewalkstheNiagaraGorgeovertheWhirlpoolRapids.Hesurvives.
August25,1869 J.F. ProfessorJenkins usesabicyclelikecontraptioncalledaVelocipede tocrossatightropeovertheWhirlpoolRapids.Hesurvives.
August25,1873 EnglishmanSignor(Henry)Bellinitightropewalksoverthegorgebelowthefalls.Hegetshalfwayanddivestothewaterbelow,whereaboatwaitstopickhimup.Herepeatsthisstunttwicemorein1873.Hesurvives.(image,photo1,photo2,photo3)
July8,1876 MariaSpelterini,anItalianhighwirewalker,isthefirst(andonly)womantocrosstheNiagaragorgeonatightrope.Shecrosseddownstreampastthelowersuspensionbridge,overtheWhirlpoolrapids.Sherepeatedherwalk4moretimesthatsameyear,oncewearingbaskets onherfeet,onceblindfolded,andoncewithherfeetandhandsbound.Shesurvived.(photo1,photo2,image3,image4)
June26th1878 CaptainJ.D.Rhodesjumpsfroma90footplatformontheAmericansidenearProspectorsPoint.Hesurvives.
1879 TheFallsareilluminatedforthefirsttimebyelectricityincelebration ofavisitbyMarquisofLorne,GovernorGeneralofCanadaandhiswifePrincessLouise.
1881 IrishwriterOscarWildecallsNiagaraFalls ...abridesseconddisappointment.
August
10,
1881 Batavia,NYnativeDavidMcDowellwalksacrossthegorgebalancingontheouterrailingoftheFallsViewSuspension Bridge.Hesurvivesdespiterumorsthathewasdrunkatthetime.
July24,1883 CaptainMathewWebb,anaccomplishedBritishsailorandswimmer,atemptstoswimfromtheMaidoftheMistdocktotheWhirlpoolrapidsfora$2,000prize.DespitebeingthefirsttocrosstheEnglishChannelwithoutaswimmingaid,hecouldnotconquertheNiagararapids.Hisbodywasrecovereddownstreamfourdayslater.(image)
1885 UnderorderoftheOntarioGovernment,theNiagaraParksCommissionisestablishedtothepreservethenaturalsceneryaboutNiagaraFalls. TheCommissionbegins buyinguplandanddemolishingbusinessestocreatefreespacearoundthefalls.TheCommissionis(andalwayshasbeen) aselffundedorganizationandisnotfundedbytaxrevenue.
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June13,1885 R.F.CarteandFrankLeBlondinvestinanewsteamer,resurrectingtheMaidoftheMistatraction.Thepowerfulboatwas70feetlong,madeofwhiteoak,andhadaglassenclosedcaptainscabin.TheshipwasabletogetclosertotheHorseshoefallsthaneverbefore,andthepopularityoftheatractionskyrocketed.Theboatwaschristened MaidoftheMistI.(photo)
July15,1885 NewYorksNiagaraReservationStateParkisopened,thefirststateparkintheUS.It encompasses 412acres(includingProspectParkaswellasGoatandBathIslands).Admissionisfree.(map)
July11,1886 CarlisleD.Graham,anEnglishbarrelmakerwhoimmigratedtoPhiladelphiawentthroughtherapidsina5footoakandironbarrelheconstructed.Hesuccessfullyrepeatedthestunt2moretimes.(photo)
August8,1886 GeorgePotsandWilliamHazlet successfullynavigatetheNiagararapidsinbarrelborrowedfromCarlisleD.Graham.(photo)
August22nd,1886 Followinganotherperformance CarlisleD.GrahamwasunabletorecoverhisbarrelfromthewatersoftheWhirlpoolrapids.Heoffered$10toanyonewhowouldretrieveitforhim.James Scotjumpedinandneverresurfaced.
BostonnativeWilliamKendallsuccessfullyswimstheNiagararapidswithnothingbutalifepreservermadeofcork.(article,photo)
Winter1886 SignorBellinireturnstoNiagaratojumpfromtheUpperSuspension Bridge.Heseriouslyinjureshimselfandis
rescued.Hesurvives.
1887 OneofthefirstelectricstreetcarsystemswasimplementedinNiagaraFalls,ON.Atotalof4electricrailsystemswouldbeimplementedoverthenext13years.Astheautomobilebecamemorepopular,thestreetcars begantostruggleandeventuallyfailed.
The SheetofFallingWater spiralstaircaseisreplacedwithahydraulicelevator.
CircusperformerandBlenheim,OntarionativeCharlesCromwellsuccessfullycrossesthegorgeonatightrope.Hereturnsin1890todoitagain.Hesurvives.
June22,1887 StephenPeer,inspiredbyBlondin,seeksbecomingthefirstlocalresidenttowalkacrossthegorgeonatightrope.Afterworkingasanassistant toSignorBellini,hemakesafirstatemptusingBellinisownequipment,whichsupposedlydroveBellinimad madenoughtotrytocuttheropeandsendPeerplummeting.Spectators caughtBellinianddrovehimoutoftown.TwodayslaterPeerwasfounddeadatthebotomofthegorge.It wasspeculatedthataftera
nightofdrinkingwithbuddies,hedecidedtogiveitagoandfelltohisdeath.(photo1,photo2,photo3,photo4)
May24,1888 TheNiagaraParksCommissioninOntarioopensthefirstrecreationalarea,namedforQueenVictoria.Thefirstparkencompasses154acresandwouldgrowovertheyearstobeanextensivesystemofparks(4,250acrestotalasof2008). (map)
1889 Thefirsttunnelsweredugforthe SheetofFallingWater atraction.Visitorswouldbeguidedthroughvialanternlight.
September15,1889 Youngstown,NYnativeWalterG.CampbellsetsoutfromtheMaidoftheMistdocinsmallwoodenrowboatwithjust anoar,twolifepreservers,andhisdogJumbo. Hisboatwascrushedeasilybytheriverrapidsandheandhisdogwerethrownoverboard.CarrieddownstreamtotheWhirlpool,hewasabletoswimtotheCanadianshoreandawaitarescue.Jumbodidnotsurvive.(article)
September6,1890 TorontonativeSamuelJ.DixontightropewalksovertheWhirlpoolrapids.HereturnsinJulyofthenextyeartodoitagain.Hesurvives.
1892 WilliamT.Love,whoownedalargeportionoflandalongtheeastsideofthefalls,begandiggingacanaltosurpassthefalls.Thecanalwastobethefoundationforadreamcommunitywheretherushingwatersofthecanalwouldprovidenearbybusinessesandhomescontinuous,cheappower.
ThefourthMaidislaunched:christenedMaidoftheMistII .Theshipisan89footlongsteamermadeofwhiteoak,witha19footbeamanddualengines.
March17,1892 ThecityofNiagaraFalls,NYisincorporated.
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May,1892 TheAmericanFallsareilluminatedforthefirsttimeincolorbytheMaidoftheMistoperatorsandthetraditionofregularlylightingthefallsbegan.
October12,1892 OntarionativeCliffordCalverlysetsthespeedrecordforcrossingthegorgeonatightrope.Therecord:2minutes,thirtytwoseconds.Atenthofthespeeditusuallytakes.Hesurvivestomakeseveralmoresuccessfulcrossings.Dubbedthe AmericanBlondin hereenacts manyofthestuntsperformedbytheoriginalBlondin.
1892 AsmallpowerplantisbuiltabovetheHorseshoeFallstogenerateDCcurrenttorunanelectrictrainservice.ThisisthefirsttimethepowerofNiagaraFallsisusedtogenerateelectricity.
July1,1896 Atage21,TorontonativeJames E.Hardybecomes theyoungestpersontocrosstheNiagaraRivergorge.Throughoutthesummerhemakes15morecrossings.Hesurvives.
April3,1897 CalverlysassistantD.H.MacDonaldalsocompletesaacrossingusingCalverlysequipment.
September7,1901 MaudeWillardatemptstotraversetheNiagararapidswithherdoginCarlisleGrahamsbarrelasCarlislehimselfswamalong,Maudesdogjammedhismuzzlethroughtheonlyairhole.Shesuffocated,thedogandGrahamsurvived.
October24,1901 BayCity,38yearoldBayCity,MichiganschoolteacherAnnieEdsonTaylorbecamethefirstpersontorideabarreloverthefalls.Shediditina4foottalloakandsteelbarrelwithananvilballast.Afterresurfacing,sheremainedtrappedintheNiagarauntilshedriftedtoaspotsuitableforrecovery.Althoughbangedup,shesurvived,utering nobodyoughteverdothatagain assheemergedfromthebarrel. (photo1,photo2,photo3)
June12,1903 ThecityofNiagaraFalls,ONisincorporated.
PowerandWaste
1905 TheOntarioPowerCompanybeginsdrawingwaterfromtheNiagaraupstreamfromtheHorseshoeFallstorunthroughitsPowerstationlocatedatthebase oftheFalls.Theplantwasdecommissionedin1999inordertomakewayforCasinoNiagara,whichwasbuiltuphill
wherethepowerstationstransformers werelocated. Plantbuildingsabovethegorgenowhouselightingfixturesfortheilluminationofthefalls.(map1,map2,photo1,photo2,photo3,photo4).
January1,1905 CanadianNiagaraPowerCompanybegangeneratingelectricityfromitsRankineGeneratingStation,thefirsthydroelectricgeneratingstationtobebuiltontheCanadiansideoftheNiagaraRiver.TheintakefortheplantislocateddirectlyabovetheHorseshoeFalls.Manyotherplantsfollow,makingmoreandmorewaterbypassthefallsandflowthroughtunnelsandturbines.(aerial1,aerial2,photo1)
November21,1906 TheElectricalDevelopmentCompanyofOntariobegins drawingwaterfromtheNiagaraupstreamfromtheHorseshoeFallstorunthroughits137,500hpelectricalgeneratingplant(TheTorontoPowerPlant).Theplantisdecommissionedin1974andisnowpartofQueenVictoriaPark.(map,illustration1,illustration2,photo1)
1910 AdvancementsinalternatingcurrentmadethelongdistancetransferofelectricityarealityandtheneedfortheWilliamT.LovesCanalwaned.Planswereabandonedandonlyaditchremained.
June25,1911 OscarWilliams(Wilson)performsthe SlideforLife.Heplannedonslidingacrossthegorgeusingaleatherstrapstrungacrossawirespanningthegorge.Hewouldhangonwithhisteeth.Thestuntfailedbecausethewirewasnttightenoughandhisweightcauseditasagashearriveatthemiddle.HewasstuckthereforahalfhouruntilaropewasusedtolowerhimtothedeckoftheMaidoftheMistbelow.Hesurvived.
July25,1911 EnglishcircusperformerBobbyLeachgoesoverthefallsinaneightfootsteelbarrel.Thebarrelgetsstuckinawhirlpoolatthebaseofthefallsfor20oddminutesuntilrescued.Hesurvives,butbreaksbothhiskneesandhisjaw.HavingpreviouslyparachutedfromtheUpperSuspension BridgeandtraversedtheNiagaraRapidsinabarrelseveraltimes,he
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returnstoparachuteoverthefallsfromaplane(twice).Ironically,attheageof70hediesasaresultofinjuriesfromslippingonanorangepeel.(photo1,photo2,photo3)
1916 WhirlpoolAeroCaratractionopens.DesignedbyaSpanishengineerLeonardoTorresQuevedo,thiscablecarrunsacross6steelcablesontheCanadiansideofthewhirlpoolbendoftheNiagaragorge.
August6,1918 Duringadredgingoperationupstreamfromthefalls,ascow(barge)thatwasbeingusedtohaulsandgetsstuckonrocksorsandandthelinesnaps,disconnectingitfromitshaulingtugboat.DeckhandsGustaveLoftberg(age51)andFrankHarris(age53)wereaboard.ThebargequicklyfloateddownstreamheadingfortheHorseshoeFalls.Luckily,thebargebecamestuckonagroupingofrocksjust2,500feetupstreamfromthefalls.Amassiverescueeffortwaslaunchedtoretrievethemenbefore thebargebecamedislodgedduetotheturbulentrapids.Afterseveralhours,crewswereabletoextendalineandpullthetwomentoshore.Theremainsofthebargearestillthere,lodgedonthesamerocksabovetheHorseshoeFalls.(aerial1,aerial2,photo1,photo2,photo3)
1920 WilliamT.LoveslandandfailedcanalweresoldtotheCityofNiagaraFallstobeusedasalandfillforchemicalwastedisposal.
NiagaraFallswasdubbedBabyCityasitwasthoughtthatmorebabies wereconceivedinthiscitythananyother.
TourisminNiagaraFallsOntarioincreasesinthe1920sandmanymodernatractionsaswellasmakeshift touristcamps areerected.
July11,1920 Britishbarber andamateurstuntperformer,CharlesStephens(DemonBarberofBristol),
becomes thethirdpersontogooverthefalls.DespiteadvicefromveteranBobbyLeach,Stephenschosetoskipsomesafetymeasuresandplanappropriatelyforthestunt.HestrappedhisarmstotheinsidesofhislargeRussianoakbarrel,andananviltohisfeetasballast.Asthebarrelhitthepoolbelowthefalls,theforceoftheimpactsentStephenscrashingthroughthebarrelsbotomandtodeathbydrowning.ThebarrelshateredandallthatwasrecoveredwerewoodenpiecesandStephens rightarm. (photo1,photo2)
September6,1920 ArockfallwithintheCaveoftheWindskills3.Multiple injuriesreported.
1926 TheTableRockHouseoftodaywaserectedbyNiagaraParksCommission.It servedasastartingpointfortheScenicTunnels,asnackbar,souvenirshop,washanddressingrooms.
July4,1928 Springfield,Massachusetsresident(originallyfromQuebec)JeanLussieratemptsgoingoverthefalls.ChallengedbythetragedyofCharlesStephens8yearsagoheexploresusingacraftotherthanasteelorwoodenbarrel.HecontractstheOhioRubberCompanytobuilda6
foot(diameter)rubberball,linedwithinnertubesandbalancedtofloatrightsideup.Learningfromprevious daredevilsmistakes,hedevisesasystemofpumpsandtankstostoreextraoxygenincaseheistrappedunderthefallsorhastoawaitrescue.Theballtakesminordamageandhesurviveswithnomajorinjuries.Forseveralyearshemakesalivingsellingpiecesofhissuccessfulcraft.Afterrunningoutofthefamedrubber,hestartssellingscraprubberinitsplace.(photo1,photo2,photo3,photo4)
July4,1930 Inhopesofraisingmoneyandawarenesstopublishabookon metaphysicalexperiences,GreekimmigrantandBuffalo,NYchefGeorgeStathakisandhispetturtlegooverthefallsinamassive2,000poundwoodandsteelbarrel.Thebarrelgetstrappedbehindthefallsandispummeledbythecurtainofwaterfornearly22hours.Bythetimerescuersgottohimhewasdead.It wasassumedthathesurvivedtheplunge,buthisbarrelonlyheldenoughairfor8hours.Hispetturtlesurvived.Niagaradaredevilstunts wouldrundryfor21yearsafterward.(photo1,photo2,photo3)
May25,1931 NiagaraFalls,ONnativeWilliam RedHillSr.finishesatrioofNiagararapidsventureswithafinaltripintheverysamebarrelGeorgeStathakisdiedin.William RedHillSr.wascalledthe MasterHeroofNiagara, andwasconsideredanexpertoftheriversrapids.HewasfamedthroughoutOntarioforsinglehandedlysavingthelivesofatotalof28drowningindividuals intheNiagaraRiver.HisthirdandfinaltripdowntherapidsnearlyendedtragicallyasStathakis cursedbarrelsprungaleakandbecamestuckwithinthevortexWhirlpoolrapids.Hisson,WilliamHillJr., witharopetiedaroundhiswaist,doveintosavehisfather.Theybothsurvived.(photo1,photo2)
1933 RipleysOdditoriumatractsover2millionvisitorsattheChicagoWorldsFair.
1936 EnrollmentbeganfortheOntarioSchoolforApprenticeGardeners,whicheventuallybecametheSchoolofHorticulture/BotanicalGardensandButerflyConservatory.Thestudentsareresponsibleformaintainingtheschoolgrounds.
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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&BrendaNevilleandMarkJohnsonfortheirhelpputingitalltogether.
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