Niagara Falls Community Gallery | Niagara Falls Exchange

Immerse yourself in the history of the iconic City of Niagara Falls, from geological creation of our famous landmark to the daredevils that dared Mother Nature to the stories of the people who made our city. Three interactive stations in this gallery allow visitors young and old to touch Mother Nature, span the gorge and become a daredevil.

Where

Niagara Falls History Museum
5810 Ferry Street
Niagara Falls, Ontario

Exhibition dates

Ongoing

Watch Fob made of Niagara Spar, c1890. The barrel contains a peep-hole showing five scenes of the Falls. Spar is gypsum, a white mineral which was gathered from the Niagara River bed and sold to unsuspecting tourists as petrified mist from the Falls.

Wire Cable, c1900. Suspension bridge cable from one of the bridges that spanned the Niagara River.

Niagara Falls location on the Portage Road attracted enterprising citizens who produced goods for travelers and settlers. The abundance of water provided advantages to industrialists as did the later availability of less expensive hydroelectric power.

This costume was worn by Stephen Peer, the only local daredevil to cross the Niagara Gorge. His walk took place on June 22, 1887. While Blondin’s cable was 3 inches in diameter, Peer’s was only 5/8 of an inch.

Thank you to our supporters

Support for the Niagara Falls Community Gallery was provided by:

Bank of Montreal
Dino Fazio
Don & Mary (Merrett) Jackson
Kiwanis Club of Stamford
Al, Vi, John & Shelley MacBain
Ron & June Mergle
Morse & Son Funeral Home
Patterson Funeral Home
Rotary Club of Niagara Falls, Canada
Bruce Ward and Bruce Peters
The Building Group (Collaborative Structures Ltd., Genivar Inc., Moriyama and Teshima Architects)