Niagara Falls: Then and Now
Then: The American falls in 1885. Most noticeable in this photo are the straighter brink and fewer rocks below the falls. The stone arch bridges built in 1901 are not pictured, but you can see the footers of the old steel bridges, Mark Thomas said. Also visible is some kind of pavilion on Prospect Point and a vintage Maid of the Mist boat.
A United States Geological Survey publication.
Now: A big rock fall happened in the 1950s, so many more rocks line the base of the American falls than in the earlier image.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Then: The American falls in 1827. This sketch appears to show a track of incline railroad that went down to the Maid of the Mist landing, before the elevator was built.
A United States Geological Survey publication.
Now: Prospect Point, looking very similar to the sketch.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Then: A copy of a sketch made by Capt. Basil Hall in 1827 from Goat Island. Development is conspicuously absent.
A United States Geological Survey publication.
Now: The Observation Tower that today juts out into Niagara Gorge is the most obvious change.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Then: The American falls in 1895. The railings are similar to the railings recently installed by these falls, Mark Thomas said; the new ones were designed based on the model of the railings from the era depicted here.
A United States Geological Survey publication.
Now: Terrapin Point, which has waterfalls in the photo from the 1895 picture, doesnu2019t look like that now. Work was done in the 1950s and 1960s to build Terrapin Point.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Then: The American falls in 1854 or 1855, with a child frighteningly close to the brink of the falls. Said the U.S. Geological Survey: "This photo is a copy of a daguerreotype made in 1854-55 taken at Prospect Point, Niagara Falls, New York. It was placed into a USGS Bulletin in 1907 (No. 306, Plate 9, page 19). In the bulletin, G.K. Gilbert says: 'The earliest good daguerreotype of the American Falls to which I have been able to assign a date is reproduced in Pl. IX. The gentleman who loaned me the daguerreotype appears in the picture as a child, and was able by that circumstance to fortify his memory and say that the view was taken in 1854 or 1855.' "
A United States Geological Survey publication.
Now: Barriers keep tourists much further away from the falls today.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Then: The American falls in 1854 or 1855. In the distance you can see the pavilion on Prospect Point and the suspension bridge. On the right is Luna Island. The tower at right may have been a steel observation tower, but Thomas could not confirm that.
A United States Geological Survey publication.
Now: The view of Niagara Falls from Luna Island.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Then: The eastern part of the Horseshoe Falls in 1885. Visible just above the crest of the falls is a bridge from Goat Island out to where Terrapin Tower used to be. This whole area is now Terrapin Point, all filled in with a dry rock face showing.
A United States Geological Survey publication.
Now: What is now the eastern part of the Horseshoe Falls.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Then: The Horseshoe Falls in 1895. Three Sisters Islands is visible in the distant center.
A United States Geological Survey publication.
Now: The view of the Horseshoe Falls from Canada is much the same.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Then: Another view of the Horseshoe Falls, this one taken in 1886. The curvature of the falls is not so wide today, Thomas said. See previous photo for comparison view.
A United States Geological Survey publication.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2016
When the U.S. Geological Survey posted a photo to Facebook showing a close-up view of a long-ago Niagara Falls, it naturally made us wonder: How much has our natural wonder changed over the years? News photographer Derek Gee set out with images from the 1907 publication "Rate of Recession of Niagara Falls" by G.K. Gilbert and attempted to match scenes from more than 100 years ago. News Reporter Aaron Besecker talked to Mark Thomas, regional director of State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, to get some perspective on what notable changes have occurred in the time since.
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