Niagara Falls Parks Established

Date Range

1885/1885

Title

Niagara Falls Parks Established

What occurred

Prior to 1885, the land around Niagara Falls had been privately owned, and in the later half of the 1800's landowners in Niagara aimed to make large profits off of their strategic landownership. Thus, large fences were built along the gorge, preventing people from being able to see Niagara Falls without paying fees. Additionally, industry had set up along the river, which frustrated the public who wanted an unobstructed and unblemished view of the falls. In 1885, New York and Canada purchased a total of 520 acres through eminent domain in order to make the falls a public space for all to see, for free, which reflected the growing conservationist movement that natural wonders and examples of sublimity should be set aside and protected for Americans to see. Additionally, in the 1880s, as a member of the NYS Assembly, conservationist Theodore Roosevelt was a member of the Niagara Falls Association an organization dedicated to promoting public and legislative support for a state park protecting Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is contested to be the first State Park in the US.

Location

570 Whirlpool St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303

Image Citation

Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "Map of New York State reservation at Niagara and Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1890. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/9d8d0700-0b09-0134-ef9e-00505686a51c

Student name(s)

Thomas Schrader