First Explorers The first written mention of Niagara Falls was made by Jacques Cartier who left France in May of 15 35 on an exploration journey. Reaching the St. Lawrence River he named it after the Saint of the same name. Here he enquired of the Indians about the source of the river and was […]

While it is not certain how long there have been people living in the Niagara area, estimates usually range between 5000 and 8000 years. Little is known about the earliest inhabitants of the region, but later residents have left a rich and exciting history. By the 1st century A.D., ancestors of the present-day “Iroguoian” peoples were firmly established in the area. Approximately 1500 years later their descendants reached a major turning point in their history when they took park in the formation of the “Great League of Peace”.

Niagara Falls History The most interesting events and facts in history of Niagara Falls. See how Niagara was created, about famous people visiting Niagara Niagara Falls history article is about creation, how the most famous waterfalls were created, first settlers, Niagara development, famous people, including Nikola Tesla, and other history highlights. We will also cover the […]

 Chronology of the important dates. Facts, events and famous people in Niagara Falls history History of Niagara Falls is the article about chronology of the important history facts, dates, events and people visiting the waterfalls, from the formation to the modern days. History of Niagara Falls – Events from thousands of years ago 18 000 […]

Long ago, the peaceful tribe of the Ongiaras lived beside the Niagara River. For an unknown reason, Indians were dying, and it was believed that the tribe must appease the Thunder God Hinum, who lived with his two sons in a cave behind the Falls. At first, the Indians sent canoes laden with fruit, flowers […]

Early travel from the American side to the Canadian side had always been a perilous undertaking and by the mid 1800’s there appeared a definite need for a sustainable method of crossing the Niagara gorge. As early as 1825 private ferry services had sprung up along the banks of the river. Usually the captain of […]

Sam Patch Sam Patch Before arriving in Niagara the young Sam Patch had already achieved a degree of notoriety by some of his previous jumps. He had performed in front of crowds in New Jersey, jumping into the Passaic Falls. When approached by local hotel proprietors he decided to take them up on their offer. […]

Captain Matthew Webb Captain Matthew Webb was born in England in 1848, one of seven children and went to sea at an early age. In 1875 he accomplished the feat of being the first person to swim the English Channel from Dover to Calais, a distance of twenty-five miles. He had also been awarded a […]

Carlisle Graham On Sunday, July 11th, 1886 Graham Carlisle, a barrel maker from Philadelphia became the first person ever to shoot the Great Gorge Rapids in a barrel. Capt. Joel Robinson had already piloted the Maid of the Mist from it’s landing below the Horseshoe Falls to Queenston in 1861. Carlisle Graham would make his […]

On a warm July afternoon in 1960 Jim Honeycutt, from Niagara Falls, New York took two young friends for a boat ride in the upper Niagara River. The boat quickly developed engine problems, and capsized, throwing the three passengers into the river upstream from the falls. Jim Honeycutt was quickly swept over the edge to […]