The New Niagara: Tourism, Technology, and the Landscape of Niagara Falls, 1776-1917

by William Warren Irwin

Visitors may wonder how Niagara Falls came to be the site of magnificent bridges, a famous cereal factory, and a picturesque New York state reservation, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Although many have always admired the natural splendor of the Falls, William Irwin explains that it was not until the mid-1800s that Niagara truly captured the American imagination. With the coming of John Roebling's railway suspension bridge in 1855 came the promise of a 'new' Niagara, one in which nature and technology could flourish in harmony. Although some saw the transformation of Niagara Falls as a national shame, for many others it stimulated utopian visions of a great modern America. Tourists flocked to a place that showcased both the beauty of nature and the marvels of technology. Companies such as Shredded Wheat (later absorbed by Nabisco) fed on the public's expectations of novel and revolutionary progress at Niagara. The Shredded Wheat factory and the Niagara Power Company became tourist

300 pages, Hardcover

First published March 29, 1996

About the author

William Warren "Big Bill" Irwin was a broadcaster and amateur historian.

During World War II, Irwin served in the U.S. Navy as a radar operator. After the war, he went to work in broadcasting, and eventually became the manager of both WGR-AM and WGRQ-FM in Buffalo. He went on to manage radio stations in Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Colorado Springs and Albuquerque. He was President of New York Broadcasters Association, and Buffalo Radio Association Group; Director of North Carolina and Albuquerque Radio Broadcasters.

Reviews

[Charles Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent cultural history of Niagara Falls!
Quibbs: "lavishly published"? Or "lavish publication"? Artistically or artfully?