A history of Niagara Falls part 3

When the Civil War ended, the pattern of tourism and commerce was gradually restored. More people came to Niagara than ever before. The last quarter of the 19th century also saw the rapid growth of a new sector of the local economy: Manufacturing.

The Niagara River was the source of power for this new industry. As early as 1850 a hydraulic canal had been blasted through the village of Niagara Falls to provide water to turn the wheels of local mills and factories. By the 1880’s the number of factories in Niagara had grown dramatically as many companies sought to tap into Niagara’s abundant and inexpensive water power. Industrial growth would continue in the area for the next several decades.

During the 1880’s and 1890’s, Niagara’s growth in population, tourism, and industry was reflected in three events that would have important consequences for the area, for the United States, and for the world.

One of these events took place in 1892, when the villages of Niagara Falls and Suspension Bridge incorporated to form the City of Niagara Falls. The city continued to grow in size and population for several decades, eventually incorporating several other villages.

Another important event occurred in 1895. Thoughtful persons had long feared that the area around the famous waterfalls at Niagara would be spoiled by overbuilding and commercialization. In 1885, the New York State Legislature created the Niagara Reservation in order to preserve the beauty of the Falls and guarantee that the public would always have access to them. The Reservation was the first of New York’s many State Parks, and its creation inspired the formation of other state parks across the United States.

Niagara falls

Perhaps the most consequential event of all took place ten years later. In 1885 the Edward Dean Adams hydroelectric generating station was opened at Niagara Falls. Before then, widespread generation and use of electricity had not been practical because the generating facilities of the time produced direct current, which is difficult to transmit over distances of more than a few miles.

The Adams Station was the world’s first commercial-scale producer of alternating current, which could be sent over great distances. In 1896, one year after the station’s opening, the world was astounded when electricity generated at Niagara Falls was transmitted to the city of Buffalo, twenty five miles away.

Electricity, which had been more or less of a novelty with limited applications, could now become an easily-obtained, dependable source of power for humanity. The world would never be the same.

The arch that formed the front entrance of the Adams Station was moved to Goat Island State Park (in the middle of the Falls) in 1966. Ten years later a large bronze statue of Nikola Tesla, the inventor of the AC induction motor that altered the future of the world, was placed in front of the arch.

During the first half of the 20th century, Niagara’s pattern of population, industrial, and tourism growth continued more or less unchanged except for temporary fluctuations in tourism during both World Wars. The second half of the century, however, has seen great changes in the region.

Preservation and restoration programs have served to highlight much of Niagara’s past, while ambitious new building programs have reshaped both the area’s face and its economy. Still one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, Niagara is also becoming known as a major convention destination, a Great Lakes vacation resort, and center of Native American culture.

The remainder of the 20th century cannot, of course, be foreseen. It is probable, however, that certain characteristics of the Niagara area will affect its future. The Falls of Niagara will continue to draw millions of visitors each year. Niagara’s resources of water and energy will become increasingly valuable. The area’s temperate climate will remain attractive to those who must deal with North America’s many climatic extremes, and the people of Niagara will prove to be an important asset in the growth of the local economy.