Terrapin Point facts for kids
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Terrapin Point is a special viewing area in Niagara Falls, New York. It sits at the very edge of Goat Island, right next to the amazing Canadian Horseshoe Falls. It's one of the best places on the New York side to see the falls and the deep Niagara River gorge below. Another great spot is Prospect Point, a bit further down the river.
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What is Terrapin Point?
Before the mid-1900s, Terrapin Point wasn't a solid area like it is today. It was a group of rocks right at the edge of the falls, separate from Goat Island. People called them the Terrapin Rocks because they looked a lot like giant tortoises, which are sometimes called terrapins.
History of Terrapin Point
Early Attractions
In 1827, two brothers named Peter and Augustus Porter owned the land on the American side of the falls. They built a 300-foot-long wooden bridge from Goat Island to these rocks, getting visitors super close to the edge of the falls.
Six years later, in 1833, they added a unique building called Terrapin Tower. It looked a bit like a lighthouse, standing about 30 to 45 feet tall and 12 feet wide. Inside, there was a spiral staircase that led visitors up to a viewing platform. From there, people could get an even better view of the powerful waterfalls.
While many visitors loved the tower, some people thought it spoiled the natural beauty of the falls. In 1873, the Porter brothers decided to blow up the tower. The wooden bridge lasted much longer and could still be seen in photos from 1934, but it was gone by 1954.
Changing the Landscape
In 1953, workers were busy digging up the upper Niagara River. Their goal was to make the water flow more evenly over the Horseshoe Falls. They used the dirt and rocks they dug up to fill in the area around Terrapin Point. This made the viewing area much larger and gave visitors new ways to see the falls.
However, in 1969, Terrapin Point had to be closed to tourists. Engineers found big cracks in the rock foundation, making it unsafe.
Rebuilding and Reopening
In 1983, the United States Army Corps of Engineers stepped in. They blasted away about 25,000 tons of unstable rock. They also added more landfill and built special dams and walls to push the water away from Terrapin Point.
Because of this work, about 400 feet of the Horseshoe Falls was changed. This included about 100 feet on the Canadian side. Some people believe that after these changes, the Horseshoe Falls is now entirely in Canada, while others say most of it is. After all this work, the area was made safe and reopened to visitors in September 1983.
Famous Feats at Terrapin Point
In June 2012, a famous daredevil named Nik Wallenda started an incredible high-wire walk from Terrapin Point. He walked directly over the brink, or edge, of the Falls. He was the first person ever to do such a dangerous walk right above the powerful waterfalls.
