Niagara Falls State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Niagara Falls State Park |
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Niagara Falls State Park's overlook of the American Falls, with the Horseshoe Falls in the distance
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| Type | State park |
| Location | Prospect Street & Old Falls Street Niagara Falls, New York |
| Area | 221 acres (0.89 km2) |
| Created | 1885 |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Visitors | 9,529,325 (in 2016) |
| Open | All year |
| Website | Niagara Falls State Park |
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Niagara Reservation
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| Location | Niagara Falls, New York, United States |
| Area | 435 acres (176 ha) (landmarked area) |
| Built | 1885 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000555 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | May 23, 1963 |
Niagara Falls State Park is a special park located in the city of Niagara Falls, New York, United States. It is known as the oldest state park in the entire country! This amazing park includes the famous American Falls, the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls, and a part of the powerful Horseshoe Falls.
Contents
History of Niagara Falls State Park
Protecting the Falls for Everyone
For a long time, private companies owned most of the land around Niagara Falls. This meant that people often had to pay or couldn't easily visit the falls. A landscape architect named Frederick Law Olmsted believed the falls should be a public space. He started working to protect them in the 1860s.
In 1879, the New York State government asked Olmsted and State Surveyor James T. Gardner to study the falls. They wrote a report that said the state should buy the land. This would allow everyone to visit the falls easily. Many people supported this idea.
How the Park Was Created
Olmsted and others formed a group called the Niagara Falls Association in 1883. Their goal was to convince New York State to buy and protect the falls from private businesses. Their hard work paid off! On April 30, 1883, a new law was signed by Governor Grover Cleveland. This law allowed the state to buy land to create a state park.
This led to the official opening of the Niagara Reservation in 1885. Thomas Vincent Welch, a New York State Assemblyman, was very important in getting this law passed. He became the first Superintendent of the park and worked there for 18 years.
America's Oldest State Park
Niagara Falls State Park is considered the oldest state park in the United States that has been open continuously. It was also the first park created using "eminent domain." This means the government bought private land for public use, even if the owners didn't want to sell.
International Efforts to Preserve the Falls
People on both sides of the Niagara River wanted to protect the falls. While an international park wasn't created, Canada also started its own park. In 1885, the Niagara Parks Commission was formed in Ontario. This led to the creation of the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park in 1887, which is now known as Queen Victoria Park.
Designing the Park
Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Calvert Vaux designed the Niagara Reservation. They finished their plans in 1887. Their main goal was to make it easy for people to visit the falls while keeping the natural beauty of the area. They didn't want it to become a place with lots of shops or resorts.
Modern Improvements and Recognition
In 1963, the Niagara Reservation was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place. The park also had a big update in 2003, costing $44 million. This money was used to improve the observation tower, visitor center, bridges, and walking trails. In 2007, The Today Show even called Niagara Falls State Park the 10th most beautiful spot in America!
Things to Do at Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls State Park offers amazing views of the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian Falls. But there's much more to see and do!
You can look down into the deep Niagara Gorge. You can also take a ride on the famous Maid of the Mist tour boats, which get you super close to the falls. Another exciting spot is the Cave of the Winds, where you can feel the spray of the falls.
The park also has Goat Island and the Prospect Point Observation Tower for great views. You can see a statue of Nikola Tesla, a famous inventor. There's also the IMAX movie Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic at the Niagara Adventure Theater.
Besides these attractions, the park has a museum, places to buy food, a gift shop, and often fireworks displays. You can enjoy hiking and nature trails, have a picnic, or join in recreation programs. If you like fishing, you can do that too! The Top of the Falls Restaurant on Goat Island offers great views of the Horseshoe Falls while you eat.
