Niagara beyond the falls

Orville O. Hiestand wrote 'See America First' in an attempt to encourage wealthy Americans to see the beauties of their own continent before rushing off to Europe. Niagara Falls was a major part of his theme, both in the detailed descriptions of the waterfalls here and as a constant reference point for his descriptions of other places to visit.

In his 'The Life of George Washington, Volume I' Washington Irving narrates the following events of 1750

Sarah H. Bradford says in her biography of Harriet Tubman that "Her name deserves to be handed down to posterity, side by side with the names of Jeanne D'Arc, Grace Darling, and Florence Nightingale, for not one of these women, noble and brave as they were, has shown more courage, and power of endurance, in facing danger and death to relieve human suffering, than this poor black woman, whose story I am endeavoring in a most imperfect way to give you."

In America the capabilities of English ladies are very much overrated. It is supposed that they go out in all weathers, invariably walk ten miles a day, and leap five-barred fences on horseback. Yielding to "the inexorable law of a stern necessity," I went to the Rock House, and a very pleasing girl produced a suit of oiled calico. I took off my cloak, bonnet, and dress.

This account of a visit to Niagara Falls was published by Isabella Lucy Bird in the book 'The Englishwoman in America' in the 1850's. Her introduction to her trip to America is priceless in its reflection of the attitudes of a certain class of British person

The following account of a visit to Niagara Falls was published in 1832 by S. A. Ferrall in his book "A Ramble of Six Thousand Miles through the United States of America."

The preface to the book is amusing for the reactions of his friends on being told he planned a trip to America

Founded on traditions among the Iroquois or six nations

Within sound of the thundering cataract's roar once worshipped the roaming sons of the forest in all their primitive freedom. They recognized in its thunder the voice, in its mad waves the wrath, and in its crashing whirlpool the Omnipotence of the Great Spirit--the Manitou of their simple creed.

Also in the rising mist, the flight of the soul, and in the beautiful bow--the brilliant path followed by the spirits of good Indians to their Happy Hunting Ground.

The Birch Bark Legends of Niagara subtitled as the 'The origin of the wolf totem' or 'A story of the lunar-bow (which brilliantly adorns Niagara Falls by moonlight)' was written by Owahyah towards the end of the 19th century. It is a collection of Six Nations tales.

It was "Dedicated to the memory of Joinstaga, from whom many legends of the almost forgotten past were obtained by the author Owahyah"

There are not one but three waterfalls at Niagara Falls today, caused by the Niagara river flowing around Goat Island before plummeting nearly 170 feet onto the rocks below. Up to six million cubic feet of water thunders down per minute, on a still sunny day the spray rises high into the air above Niagara Falls. An observer a few miles away can be fooled into believing they are seeing smoke rising from a major fire, Niagara Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America.