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I wrote this Point of View
because I want to share what I thought about niagara falls black history tours. I hope you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical backdrop
While the name “Niagara” is said to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have observed the folklore to be a more gripping story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden bespoken by her father to an Indian warrior she hated. She opted to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of wedding a man she did not love. The history says that she paddled her canoe over the falls and into He-No’s arms. Together their souls will live always in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You likely already know that tourism is the areas primary source of income. This really started during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After our country's Civil War the railways began publicising the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't hard given the history to glamorize Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The tourism industry enjoyed another boom immediately after World War One. It was the auto that furnished a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area went much easier and was one of the best vacation destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new autos to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been seeking to harness the massive water flow as an perpetual supply of energy. The first successful effort to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his sawmill with a modest man made canal. The major exploitation came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla invented the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering science made it possible to transfer electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls will bring nearly 4.4GW of power to the surrounding areas of both the United States and Canada.
Conservation efforts
Once Europeans commenced to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was promptly targeted by developers and entrepreneurs alike as a way to produce a fast fortune. Unlike today most of the land in the area was privately owned and was easily acquired for development. This came at a price to the natural beauty of the area. Luckily a group of concerned citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church organised the Free Niagara crusade. This administration was successful in convincing the general public that Preservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, chartered by New York State, set out buying land from developers in an campaign to retard the overpowering development in the region. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Both organisations have been hugely successful at conserving the area and limiting exploitation so that future generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonder.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a rich history of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your considering a vacation to the region, I’m certain you’ll be able to find plenty to do. I have listed a few sound books at the conclusion of this article or you can visit Amazon for a complete list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to depart the area as nice as you encountered it and to leave the barrel at home.
Niagara Falls : An Intimate Portrait - by John Grant
Fodor's Toronto 2006 : With Niagara Falls & the Niagara Wine Region (Fodor's Gold Guides) - by Fodor's
In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at Niagara Falls - by T. W. Kriner
Niagara Falls Volume II (Images of America) - by Daniel M. Dumych
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