Tower Hotel (Niagara Falls) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tower Hotel |
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The tower before the 2010 renovations
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| General information | |
| Address | 6732 Fallsview Blvd |
| Town or city | Niagara Falls, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°04′44″N 79°04′56″W / 43.078947°N 79.082084°W |
| Groundbreaking | March 15, 1961 |
| Opened | July 1, 1962 |
| Renovated | 2010 (most recent) |
The Tower Hotel opened in 1962 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. It was the first modern observation tower built close to the famous Niagara Falls. This tall building has an indoor viewing area, a restaurant, a wedding chapel, and a hotel.
From the street, the tower stands 99 meters (325 feet) tall. But because it's built on high ground, it is actually 160 meters (525 feet) above the falls. The tower got its current name, The Tower Hotel, in 2010 after its most recent updates. However, many people still call it the Minolta Tower because Minolta was its sponsor for a long time.
Contents
History of the Tower Hotel
Early Towers in Niagara Falls
For over 100 years, there were many smaller towers in the Niagara Falls area. Most of these were made of wood. Two well-known ones were the Drummond Hill Tower and Street's Pagoda.
- The Drummond Hill Tower was built so visitors could see the War of 1812 battleground of Battle of Lundy's Lane. Many soldiers from that battle are buried nearby.
- Street's Pagoda was named after Thomas "T.C." Street, who owned Cedar Island. This island was located between the Horseshoe Falls and Dufferin Islands. The Pagoda was taken down in 1887. Cedar Island later became part of the mainland.
Building the Tower Hotel
Construction of the Tower Hotel began in 1961. It was one of the first buildings in North America to use a special building method called slipform construction. This method helps build tall structures quickly.
During construction, a small fire happened on the roof in September 1961. Hot concrete spilled and set a tarp on fire, causing some gas tanks to explode. The damage was minor, and nine people had small injuries. The tower officially opened its doors on July 1, 1962.
Changes to the Skyline
When the Tower Hotel was first planned in 1961, it was meant to be part of a larger hotel and convention center. However, due to money issues, the other hotel buildings were not built right away. It took over 40 years for hotels to start rising next to the tower.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the land around the tower had an aquarium and a show called Waltzing Waters. The Waltzing Waters show, which had lights and water moving to music, moved in 1995 and then disappeared by 2000. The aquarium was also taken down in 1996.
In the 2000s, many large hotels like the Fallsview Hotel and Hilton Hotel were built on Fallsview Boulevard. These new hotels also offer great views of the Falls. This made the Tower Hotel less unique as the only building with amazing views.
How the Tower Got Its Names
The Tower Hotel has had several names over the years. It was first called the Seagram Tower. Later, due to different owners, its name changed many times:
- Heritage Tower (1969)
- Royal Inn Tower (1971)
- Royal Center Tower (1972)
- Panasonic Tower (1973)
- Minolta Tower (1984)
- Konica Minolta Tower Centre (2003)
In 2010, the tower was updated again. Its color changed back to white, and the "Konica Minolta" sign was replaced with "Tower Hotel." The clocks on the outside were also removed.
What You Can Find at the Tower Hotel
Observation Deck Views
The observation deck is on the 25th floor. It offers amazing views of the falls and the Niagara River. The windows are designed to reduce glare, which helps when taking photos. You can also see old photos and news articles about the tower's construction. There are also telescopes to use for a closer look. The observation deck is now mainly used for weddings.
Restaurants to Enjoy
The tower has an International House of Pancakes restaurant on the 26th floor. Before this, it was home to "Marilyn's Bistro & Lounge," a restaurant inspired by the movie Niagara, which starred Marilyn Monroe. For many years, the tower also had a fancy restaurant called Pinnacle Restaurant.
Weddings at the Tower
The tower has a special wedding chapel. It offers full wedding services, including planners, cakes, flowers, and photography. Different wedding packages are available, some including hotel rooms. You can have a fully legal wedding here.
The Hotel Experience
In 2002, the tower reopened after big renovations to include a four-star Ramada Plaza Fallsview hotel. This hotel later became independent in 2011 and is now known as The Tower Hotel.
Images for kids
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The tower before the 2010 renovations
