Things You Never Knew About Niagara County
Niagara County is rich in history — and in quirky trivia! Here are 10 of our favorite facts to share about Niagara Falls USA to enrich your next visit.
Yours, Mine and Ours
Niagara Falls is not “owned” by the U.S. or by Canada. Instead, an international boundary map divides the natural wonder into three waterfalls — the bulk of Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side, while the aptly named American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are on the U.S. side.
Maid to Order
Our favorite way to get close to the Falls — the Maid of the Mist, Niagara Falls USA’s exclusive boat tour — was launched back in 1846 as a ferry between the U.S. and Canada.
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Freeing Niagara
In the late 1800s, the Niagara River was in danger of over-industrialization. An effort to “free” the Falls attracted the support of notables like Charles Darwin, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, William Morris and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Known as the “Free Niagara” movement, it was led by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Niagara Falls State Park (and Central Park, too, on the other side of New York) — and it was a success.
What’s in a Name?
Goat Island, the island that separates Bridal Veil Falls from the roaring Horseshoe Falls, earned its name back in 1778. Pioneer John Stedman rowed his herd of goats out to the island to keep them safe from wolves. (Unfortunately, a brutal winter did them in instead). Prior to 1778, it was called Iris Island, owing to the amount of iris flowers found thriving there. Olmsted speculated that the spray from the Falls created a unique growing environment for indigenous plants.
Speaking of Goat Island…
At one point in time, New York City carnival entrepreneur P.T. Barnum wanted to turn Goat Island into circus grounds — but was unsuccessful.
Big Fish
The Lower Niagara River is home to a resilient population of a threatened fish species: lake sturgeon. Once overfished for their eggs (caviar!), these bottom-feeders can live 150 years and grow to be 9 feet long (and weigh up to 300 pounds).
Grape Expectations
The climate in the Niagara wine region compares to that of Alsace, a famed wine-making region in northeastern France. Combine the climate with the local soil (it’s dolomitic limestone, if you’re curious), and you get ideal conditions for growing vinifera, or European grapes (think: pinot, Riesling, chardonnay, cabernet franc and the like).
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/main-images/farm-A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=79c099b4aa4ae484a4bbd630f37fc3c4 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/main-images/farm-A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=896b6660ea156441b29bbce9528861dd 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/main-images/farm-A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=e1af72a3688cf9952c97139accc143ce 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/main-images/farm-A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=2c6851efa9b871f5b8c3a90db7ea5984 900w)
Bravery Remembered
During the War of 1812, the British burned the towns of Lewiston and Youngstown to the ground. Members of the Tuscarora Nation came to the aid of the Lewiston citizens in a heroic gesture now commemorated by the Tuscarora Heroes Monument in Lewiston. To this day, the Tuscarora People reside on a reservation atop the Niagara Escarpment.
A Global Port
North Tonawanda and its sister Tonawanda were known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 19th century, due to their position at the western end of the Erie Canal. Timber from the Great Lakes states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as Canada, were shipped from the Tonawandas to eastern seaboard ports and beyond.
Taking Flight
The Flight of Five locks in Lockport is recognized as one of the most iconic features along the Erie Canal. The staircase of five locks allowed boats to be raised or lowered more than 60 feet in order to traverse the Niagara Escarpment. Two of the historic locks have been restored, and visitors can watch their massive wooden gates at work alongside the modern locks that control today’s traffic.
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Niagara Falls is overflowing with natural beauty — and with history! These interesting facts about…
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Dry-Falls-Niagara-Falls-Public-Library.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=4f104635e6757524a81dbd6db8e6789e 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Dry-Falls-Niagara-Falls-Public-Library.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=631ff5965c466d971d728113a2015e00 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Dry-Falls-Niagara-Falls-Public-Library.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=e8d61fe5c34ec164e9ececb03e1cd0cc 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Dry-Falls-Niagara-Falls-Public-Library.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=88d222435b08529802cbb220dcc8ab0a 1024w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Dry-Falls-Niagara-Falls-Public-Library.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=b583468f2be6b54d35775fc342eff8c3 1185w)
Back in 1969, the Falls were “turned off.” Here’s why and how it happened.
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/4_Herschell_A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=5ef2aae23c1fe533fe0507abc413dd15 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/4_Herschell_A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=47d0de68384c70843ddd99d13dff3af2 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/4_Herschell_A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=420781e2e3b1ed76df03f228112e005d 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/4_Herschell_A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=4a875e6d6a8e015ad10d9729f71bf592 1024w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/4_Herschell_A.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=35c301f1c4b62c76dc2c6d76b1c2f8fb 1185w)
Go behind the history to find out how North Tonawanda became the ideal place to…