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History
It is said that the name Niagara originates from an Iroquois word meaning "thunder of waters." There are three seperate waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. They are the American Falls (between Prospect Point and Luna Island), the Bridal Veil Falls (between Luna Island and Goat Island) and the Canadian/Horseshoe Falls (between Goat Island and Table Rock).
While it is not certain how long there have been people living in the Niagara area, estimates usually range between 5,000 and 8,000 years. Some of the first known inhabitants were members of the five nations whose territories stretched across what is now New York State -- the Seneca, Cayuga, Onandaga, Oneida and Mohawk.
 Old Fort NiagaraOver the next 200 years, there were many battles fought in the
Niagara area including the French-Indian War, the American Revolution
and the War of 1812.
When the war ended in 1815, settlements
and villages were reestablished and began to grow.
Several enginering marvels made Niagara accessible to the world during the
second quarter of the 19th century -- the Erie Canal and the Roebling
Suspension Bridge over the Niagara Gorge, which opened in 1855.
The Niagara Frontier was also a northern terminus of the Underground Railway. Many of the old houses along the lower Niagara River still have secret cellars and tunnels that were used to hide the slaves until it was safe to move them.
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 and industrial growth would continue in the area for the next
several decades.
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.
Links to other Niagara Falls historical sites
Old Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara Light House
Explore the Underground Railroad
Facts About Niagara Falls
Discover Niagara Falls
Info Niagara
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