THE LIGHTING OF NIAGARA FALLS
Man's first move to illuminate the mighty Niagara Falls was made more than 130 years ago. The first recorded attempt was made in 1860, the noted rope walker, Blondin, in the year, invented his own way of lighting his night performances. He carried flares and shot off fireworks as he walked across a rope strung over the gorge. In the same season, the falls were spectacularly lighted for the visit of the Prince of Wales, later Edward V11. The Prince saw the falls illuminated by about 200 colored and white calcium, volcanic and torpedo lights.
They were placed along the banks above the American Falls, among the rocks below and on the road down the bank on the Canadian side. They were set off all at once and, at the same time, rockets, spinning wheels and other fireworks were touched off. The effect, according to the London Times was "something grand, magical and brilliant beyond all the power of words to portray."
The Times speculated that the Prince probably had seen something that man "will probably never see again." The lights were called Bengal lights and were the kind of signals used at sea to attract attention and give warning. Illumination by electricity dates back to 1879 when the Marquis of Lome and Princess Louise visited here in January. The lights had an illuminating power of 32,000 candles, a far cry from the intensity of the present lights.
In July of 1879, a 36 horsepower generating station was set up in Prospect Park. Its 16 open arc lamps had 2,000 candlepower each. The Niagara Falls, N.Y. Gazette of July 9, 1879 reported" "On the evening of the Fourth, the park was crowded with visitors and citizens and a very satisfactory exhibition of the new light was given." In May, 1892, a new lighting plan was introduced. Frank LeBlond purchased a 4,000 candle power light and placed it upon the Canadian dock of the Maid of the Mist to light the American Falls.
On April 19, 1900, the Gazette announced that "the Gorge Road will start to operate lights to illuminate the Whirlpool during the summer season, and will run night excursions three times a week. The Gazette continued "Forty lamps of 2,000 candlepower each will be placed in the gorge along a distance of 250 feet. Lights will be clustered and so many in such a short distance will make the gorge as light as day. Each light will be filled with three globes, white, red and blue, and will work automatically, alternating colors. A huge searchlight will also operate from the cars."
Since the incorporation of The Niagara Falls Illumination Board in 1925 many changes have taken place, but the lights still shine nightly on the Falls. Definitely a site worth seeing.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our beautiful province and we do hope that you will return again.
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