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Historical background
While the moniker “Niagara” is told to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have found the folklore to be a more captivating story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden betrothed by her father to an Indian warrior she despised. She chose to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of marrying 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 sanctuary behind the Falls.
You probably already know that tourism is the areas principal source of income. This really started during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After this country's Civil War the railways began advertising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamorize Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry enjoyed a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the car that rendered a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area became much easier and was one of the best vacation destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new autos to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been attempting to rule the massive water flow as an eternal supply of energy. The first successful endeavor to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his sawmill with a little 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 transport electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls furnishes around 4.4GW of power to the encompassing areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans commenced to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was quickly targeted by developers and entrepreneurs alike as a way to produce a speedy fortune. Unlike today most of the land in the area was privately owned and was easily acquired for growth. This came at a cost to the natural beauty of the region. Luckily a group of concerned citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church organized the Free Niagara social movement. This organization was successful in convincing the general populace that Conservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, began purchasing land from developers in an effort to retard the consuming development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Both governances have been enormously successful at conserving the area and cutting back development so that future generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so much to offer. From a deep story of romance and adventure to a true natural wonder. If your deliberating a vacation to the region, I’m sure you’ll be able to locate enough to do. I have listed a few fine books at the conclusion of this article or you can visit Amazon for a entire list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to leave the area as nice as you discovered 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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