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Caught Our Eyes: Frozen Falls

Posted by: Kristi Finefield

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Recently, frigid temperatures lingering in parts of the United States have caused a somewhat rare occurrence: the (partial) freezing of Niagara Falls. While water still flows, either visibly or under a frozen shell, sections of the massive falls are covered in ice, to the delight of tourists making the trip to the U.S./Canadian border to view this natural wonder.

Looking back through our collections, I found several examples of icy Niagara Falls and the surrounding area from many years ago.  Enjoy the winter wonderland through these historic photographs – no bundling up required!

<i>American Fall and ice mountain.</i> Stereograph by George E. Curtis, between 1860 and 1900. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c16300
American Fall and ice mountain. Stereograph by George E. Curtis, between 1860 and 1900. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c16300
<i>Ice Bridge, Niagara 1912.</i> Photo by Bain News Service, 1912. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.10087
Ice Bridge, Niagara 1912. Photo by Bain News Service, 1912. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.10087
<i>A Fairy-land of ice and snow, Niagara Falls, U.S.A.</i> Stereograph copyrighted by R. Y. Young, 1903. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c07047
A Fairy-land of ice and snow, Niagara Falls, U.S.A. Stereograph copyrighted by R. Y. Young, 1903. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c07047
<i>Luna Island, Niagara Falls, N.Y. </i> Photo by Detroit Publishing Company, between 1900 and 1910. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/det.4a24370
Luna Island, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Photo by Detroit Publishing Company, between 1900 and 1910. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/det.4a24370
<i>American Fall in winter, Niagara.</i> Photochrom by Detroit Photographic Company, between 1898 and 1905. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.17828
American Fall in winter, Niagara. Photochrom by Detroit Photographic Company, between 1898 and 1905. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.17828
People on snow-covered ice at the base of the frozen American Falls, Niagara Falls, New York. Photo by George Barker, copyrighted 1883. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.11768
People on snow-covered ice at the base of the frozen American Falls, Niagara Falls, New York. Photo by George Barker, copyrighted 1883. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.11768

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Comments (3)

  1. Jack C. Templeton Jr. says:

    WHAT IMMEDIATELY STRIKES MY ATTENTION IS HOW CLOSE
    PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO APPROACH THE FALLS.
    GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS SO NARROW OUR APPROACH
    NOW WE HAVE TO PAY FEES TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO
    FEEL THE SPRAY ON OUR FACES……

  2. Celia says:

    Wonderful! Thank you.

  3. j barry stan says:

    Jack, lived there 30 yrs and back to visit in 2006 2013, never had to pay. Walk onto goat island from the east to the three sisters on the west. You can play in the water above the brink, for free!

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