History of Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a vibrant city in southeastern Ontario, Canada, right on the Niagara River. Beyond its natural beauty, Niagara Falls is known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World! Learn about fascinating facts, historical moments and daredevil stunts over the Falls.

A city steeped in history

Discover our history at the Niagara Falls Museums and the Niagara Falls Public Library.

Our museums offer so much to learn, here are some interesting historical moments:

• Enjoy a brief history of Niagara Falls on our museum website
• Originally called Elgin, the area merged with Clifton in 1856 before becoming Niagara Falls in 1881. The city was officially incorporated in 1904 and expanded in 1963 after merging with Stamford Township.
• War of 1812: One of the war’s bloodiest battles happened at Lundy’s Lane on July 25, 1814. A total of 7,500 American and Canadian soldiers fought for six hours, leaving 1,000 dead or wounded
• Learn about and tour the Lundy's Lane Battlefield and Lundy's Lane Battlefield Park
• In March of 1848, the Niagara River stopped flowing for 30 silent hours due to an ice blockage from Lake Erie. Learn more about the Frozen Falls

Daring feats and legendary stunts

• Blondin, a 19th-century tightrope walker, performed daring stunts over the gorge, including crossing blindfolded, and while carrying a cooking stove and preparing an omelet. On August 19, 1859, he carried Harry Colcord, his 148-pound manager, on his back
• Steven Peer, born in Niagara Falls, performed his first official rope walk in 1887 between the Great Western's suspension bridge and the Michigan Central's cantilever bridge
• Annie Taylor, “Queen of the Mist,” a Bay City, Michigan schoolteacher, was the first person to go over the horseshoe falls in a barrel and survive. She completed the stunt on October 24, 1901, her 63rd birthday. She tested it first with a cat inside, and the animal survived unharmed
• Bobby Leach, in 1911 he was the second person to to over the horseshoe falls in a barrel and survive
• Roger Woodward, a 7-year-old boy, survived a plunge over the falls after a boating accident in 1960
• Nik Wallenda, a famed Flying Wallendas circus family member, was the first to wire walk above the Horseshoe Falls on June 15, 2012
• Many have attempted similar stunts in homemade barrel-like contraptions, a kayak, and a jetski, all with mixed results—some surviving, while others perished