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Historical background
While the name “Niagara” is alleged to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have noticed the folklore to be a more riveting story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden engaged by her father to an Indian warrior she loathed. She opted to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of marrying a man she did not love. The tale says that she paddled her canoe over the falls and into He-No’s arms. Together their souls will live forever in the Thunder God’s sanctuary behind the Falls.
You most likely already know that tourism is the regions 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 publicising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamourize Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The tourism industry enjoyed a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the motorcar that supplied a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area turned much easier and was one of the best holiday destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new autos to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was found man has been seeking to rule the massive water flow as an endless supply of energy. The first successful effort to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his lumbermill with a small man made canal. The major exploitation came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla formulated the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This applied science made it possible to transfer electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls supplies close to 4.4GW of power to the bordering areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans began to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was quickly targeted by developers and entrepreneurs alike as a way to attain a fast 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 worried citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church conceived the Free Niagara social movement. This administration was successful in convincing the general public that Conservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, set out purchasing land from developers in an attempt to slow the consuming development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each organizations have been tremendously successful at upholding the area and curbing development so that new generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so much to offer. From a robust story of romance and adventure to a real natural wonder. If your taking a holiday to the area, I’m sure you’ll be able to locate plenty to do. I have listed many fine books at the closing of this article or you can visit Amazon for a overall list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to depart 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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