We make a trip to Old Fort Niagara, built in the 1700’s and swapped back and forth by France, England, and the U.S. We then head a bit south to where we heard there were some pretty decent waterfalls…

Fort Niagara was just west of our campground on the Niagara Scenic Parkway that would also take us down to the Falls. The Fort is over 300 years old, initially started by the French in an effort to control the westward route into the rest of the Great Lakes. The main building, the “French Castle” was the first permanent fortification, built in 1726. The British took control of the fort during the French and Indian war and held it until they surrendered it by treaty in 1796 to the U.S. They regained it during the War of 1812 but had to give it back to the U.S. in 1815, after the war.

The Gate of Five Nations, so named by the French to honor the Five Nations native Indian confederation in the area, was built in 1756. It consisted of the gatehouse and a drawbridge and serves as an entrance to the park.

The counter-weight system inside the gate house. Crude but looked like it worked.

The fort consisted mainly of north and south redoubts, structures consisting of three floors, the second floor serving as a guardhouse and the third as a gundeck. The redoubts served to strengthen the fort’s defenses by providing crossfire on anyone attacking the fort.

This is a view from the gundeck from the south redoubt looking at the north redoubt.

The oldest and largest building at Old Fort Niagara was built in 1726 by the French and is aptly named the French Castle. It could house up to 60 soldiers and also contained officer quarters, chapel, bakery, powder magazine, and storerooms.

After touring the fort, wandering through the buildings and checking out all the cannons, we headed south down the Niagara Scenic Parkway to Niagara Falls. We walked along the Niagara River through Whirlpool State Park. The park is just downstream from Niagara Falls and the gorge compresses the river creating a class V whitewater stretch with amazing turbulence. The dramatic near 90 degree change in the river’s flow creates the Niagara Whirlpool.

What can you say about Niagara Falls? One has an idea of what it looks like and what is to be expected, but to see it up close and in person is just amazing. As you get close to the falls, the Canadian side comes into view, complete with maple leaf flags and all of their tourist stuff mirroring the U.S. side.

There are actually three waterfalls, Bridal Veil, Horseshoe, and American Falls. Water flows from four of the Great Lakes: Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior. It is well worth the trip to take it all in.

The dominate feature of the area, except for the falls, of course, is the Skylon Tower. It looms 764 feet over the Canadian side and has both indoor and outdoor viewing areas of the falls. There are also several restaurants at the top, including one that rotates. Definitely on our list of things to do and see if/when we go back.

Prospect Point Observation Tower on the American side of the Niagara Gorge is 282 feet high and is the only spot in the park to view both the American and Horseshoe Falls at the same time. The elevators at the base of the aluminum, steel, and glass tower provide access to the boarding point for the Maid of the Mist boat tour. The Tower is on our list of things to do when we return.

To best see all the falls, one must take the Maid of the Mist boat tour. These ubiquitous boat trips are part of the lore of Niagara Falls and a requirement when visiting the Falls. The Mist started out as a border-crossing ferry, but when a bridge opened up between the U.S. and Canada, the owners decided to make it a sightseeing ride. Notable passengers through the years have included Prince Albert (presumable out of his can), Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe (for the movie Niagara), and the wedding party of Jim and Pam in scenes from the sit-com The Office (so I read). It was an amazing trip, one we will repeat, given the chance. The full ponchos (bright pink to assist in the recovery of anyone that falls overboard?) are not just for looks, you will get soaked from all the spray from the Falls. We had a great time.

On Goat Island, lying in the Niagara River between Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls, there are several viewing points of the falls. There is also the Tesla Monument honoring the inventor Nikola Tesla. It seemed somewhat strange to have this large statue in this environment, but once we learned more it made perfect sense.

The first major hydroelectric power plant in the world was built in Niagara Falls by Tesla and George Westinghouse in the late 1800’s. Tesla promoted the use of a two-phase AC generating system, and its success set alternating current electricity as the world standard and the power plant started the electrification of the world. There is also a statue of Tesla on the Canadian side, and fittingly, the new Maid of the Mist boats are all-electric, and one is named the Nikola Tesla.

With lots of new things/places to see when we return to Niagara Falls, we headed along the coast of Lake Ontario, following it east until we entered the Saint Lawrence River and Seaway. The St Lawrence River runs from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic Ocean. The SL Seaway is a series of canals, locks, and navigable channels that allow oceangoing ships to travel from the Atlantic Ocean inland as far as the western side of Lake Superior.

The mouth of the SL River has several small islands that ships must navigate through, providing us great views from the highway running right along the shore of the river.

We headed south off of the Seaway into the Adirondacks and points east. Fall colors were peaking in New England.

Next: Continuing into the heart of New England, enjoying the fall colors, and ultimately headed to Maine.