Niagara Falls History - Historic Timeline

7/27/2019 Niagara Falls History - Historic Timeline

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Index

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

ara Falls History - Historic Timeline http://nyfalls.com/niagara/niagara-falls-tim

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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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