Category: New York

Niagara Falls State Park: Observation Tower

On By nationalparkswithtIn New York2 Comments
Observation Tower
Parks and other public lands with T!

Western NY Parks➤

In September, I set out with a road trip buddy to visit some park units in upstate New York. For me, the highlight of this trip was visiting my 100th National Park Service unit. That puts me at Bronze status in the National Parks Traveler’s Club. After Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site we headed to Niagara Falls. We started our full day in the park out with a trip on the Maid of the Mist.

Niagara Falls➤

Niagara Falls consists of three waterfalls which span the Niagara Gorge along the United States and Canadian border. Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the three, straddles the border and is also called the Canadian Falls. The smaller American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie on the New York State side of the border.

Goat Island in New York separates the Canadian Falls from the other two falls. The Niagara River forms all of the falls as it runs through the gorge. These are the most powerful waterfalls in North America. Nearly 6 million cubic feet flow over the falls every minute.

In 1883, then governor Grover Cleveland authorized land acquisition to create a state park to preserve the area around the Falls. Canada followed suit and created the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park on the Canadian side.

Observation Tower➤

Our tickets for Maid of the Mist included a ride up the high speed elevator to the observation deck. The Observation Tower stands on what was once the High Bank Industrial/Mill District. It was built in 1961 and renovated in 2003.

From the tower, we could see all three falls, the Maid of the Mist and the Rainbow Bridge. The Rainbow Bridge spans the gorge, connecting Canada and the United States.

Western NY Road Trip➤

Location: 332 Prospect St, Niagara Falls, NY
Designation: State Park
Date designated/established: 1885
Date of my visit: September 26, 2022