An extensive gathering of pleasing to the eye Black and White plus some color and hand-coloured images - A collection of superb Gallery Prints on archival quality Fine Art Paper or Artists Quality Matte Canvas - Creating a fabulous History, Nostalgia and Decorative Wall Art Centre of images dating back through the 1800s to early 1900 Niagara

Note: Each picture holds a story from long ago.
The facts about the event or location depicted in each of these pictures are noted in a related to the image document that is included with your artwork and is suitable for display with your picture. You’ll find these true stories fascinating and many are stranger than fiction

Decorate your home or place of business walls with some interesting conversation pieces from the past.

Niagara Writer Old Time Gallery Prints – Official Gallery Print Edition

Subject:
Niagara – The Region along the Niagara River Border in 1840
It’s a collection of scenes and stories that tourist from that time in long ago Niagara experienced…

Some interesting excerpts from a 1830s 40s “Book of Niagara Falls” the comments on rapid travel… “In these days of rapid traveling,(1840s)…” makes one wonder what they would think of our modes of travel today?

Now the following comments are as true today as way back then “…when the most trifling delay is deemed a calamity, a few directions may be necessary, to enable you to save time, and view the various points of interest to the hest advantage.”

Niagara travelers take note the following applies to most visitors coming here today as much as it did in those days 168 years ago “At the same time we can not help deprecating the mania so prevalent at the present day, of making our excursions for pleasure, mere races against time. No person should come to Niagara, for the first lime, and leave the same day; it is utterly impossible for one to conceive or realize its grandeur or beauty in such a visit — in fact one can hardly endure the bodily- fatigue of simply climbing up and down the various stair-cases, hills, rocks, &c., much less can the mind take in and appreciate the various objects of interest which necessarily present themselves in such quick succession, when endeavoring to see the whole of Niagara in a day”.

“It is a common custom for visitors on arriving at Niagara, to hasten, immediately upon alighting from their conveyance, to catch a first glimpse at the mighty cataract; and this view may in all probability be one of the least attractive — they feel disappointed — and wonder at the eulogium bestowed by other travelers, who have used more time and discretion, jump into the first car that leaves, and ———— praise the falls, because every one else does, not because they have witnessed or appreciated its beauties themselves!”

Niagara Map # 1840 11001         Niagara Map # 1840 11002
       

Map Prints above were included in the 1830s - 1840s tourist guides of those days long ago

1840 Niagara Map # 1840 11001 and Niagara Map # 1840 11002 is available in the following folio sizes:

Now on with the 1840s tour…
Should you arrive on the American side, you will of course stop at one of the Hotels, of which the principal are the CATARACT HOTEL, kept by P. Whitney & Sons (see # 1842 12056 and # 1842 12052 for a view of these hotels of the day), and the EAGLE HOTEL, by C. B. Griffen & Co., both of which are excellent houses.

After recovering in some measure from the fatigue of your journey, take the street to the right around either of the Hotels, and proceed a few rods, to the bridge that leads across the rapids to Bath and Goat Islands; you will stop at the toll-house on Bath Island when you pass over, record your name in the register and pay twenty-five cents, which entitles you to visit all the islands, with their appendages, as often as you please during your visit, or for the year, without any additional charge. And if you choose to cross in a carriage, you pay no more. Proceed next to Goat Island, where you will find guide-boards directing you to all the most interesting places and objects around the island. Follow the gravel walks at the right, down to the cascade or centre fall, and cross a narrow bridge to Luna Island, from the farther corner of which you will have the best and most splendid view of the falls on the American side.

Niagara # 1840 11017
American Sheet

Retracing your steps to the gravel walk, proceed next to the Biddle Staircase; descend that without fail, as you will there have a magnificent and much admired view of the two entire falls, standing between them, and an opportunity, if the wind be favorable, of passing a considerable distance behind either sheet, with the tremendous flood pouring over you from a height of 150 feet. From the foot of the stair-case, turn first to the right and go to the Cave of the Winds, under the centre fall, and in returning, follow the path to the great Crescent fall.

1840 Niagara # 1840 11017 is available in the following folio sizes

Reaching the top of the island again, proceed to the farther corner, where you will find the Stone Tower, forty-five feet high, with winding steps to the top, and also the Terrapin Bridge, from both which places you will have decidedly the best and most impressive views of the falls, that can be had from any position. Here you will realize power, grandeur, sublimity, immensity, — no pen or tongue can describe it.

1840 Niagara # 1840 11029 is available in the following folio sizes

Pursuing your way with a view to go entirely round the island, — as you ought without fail to do, inasmuch as you will thus get a much better view of the rapids and surrounding scenery than can be obtained any where else, — you will proceed up to a beautiful cascade where, under the shelter in part of a projecting rock, you can have an opportunity to bathe in the sparkling foam of Niagara.

1840 Niagara # 1840 11031 is available in the following folio sizes

…In crossing the river, not the least danger need be apprehended; it is a perfectly safe and most delightful excursion, and persons sometimes swim across without difficulty. The time occupied in crossing is ordinarily about eight minutes, and the ferriage is 18 cents, from May to November; and 25 cents from November to May. If you have trunks or other baggage to be transported from either side to the other, the ferryman will convey them safely, at a reasonable charge. The river is here 76 rods wide and 250 feet deep.

Having crossed the river, you proceed up the bank by a carriage road, at the head of which stands the Clifton House: here you can refresh yourself, and proceed towards the Table Rock; about half way between the Hotel and Table Rock, stands the very interesting Museum of Mr. Barnett, which visitors should by no means fail to visit. This gentleman, (Mr. Barnett) has spent years in the collection of his museum, and an examination of its contents will amply prove that the time has not been spent uselessly.

Niagara # 1840 11040
Niagara Falls

From Table Rock you have one broad and imposing view of the' whole falls, and much of the scenery of the rapids and islands. It is generally conceded that this view, and that from the Terrapin Bridge, are the best, and combine more of the beautiful and sublime, than can be obtained from any other point on either side of the river.

Table Rock Poetry (found in the guest book)

"Niagara! Niagara! I hear
Thy tumbling waters. And I see thee rear
Thy thundering scepter to the clouded skies;
I see it wave — I hear the ocean rise,
And roll obedient to thy call. I hear
The tempest-hymning of thy flood in fear;
The quaking mountains and the nodding trees —
The reeling birds — and the careering breeze —
The tottering hills, unsteadied in thy roar;
Niagara! as thy dark waters pour,
One everlasting earthquake rocks thy lofty shore."

In ascending the bank from Table Rock to the Hotels, you have a fine and extensive view of the surrounding country.

1840 Niagara # 1840 11040 is available in the following folio sizes

Niagara # 1840 11045
Brock’s Monument and Queenston

The following is the inscription on this Monument

"The Legislature of Upper Canada has dedicated this Monument to the many civil and military services of the late Sir James Brock, Knight, Commander of the most Honorable Order of the Bath, Provincial Lieutenant Governor and Major General, Commanding His Majesty's forces therein. He fell in action, on the 13th of Oct., 1812, honored and beloved by those whom he governed, and deplored by his Sovereign, to whose services his life had been devoted. His remains are deposited in this vault, as also his Aid-de-Camp, Lieutenant Colonel John McDonald, who died of his wounds the 14th of Oct., 1812, received the day before, in action."

1840 Niagara # 1840 11045 is available in the following folio sizes

Niagara # 1840 11104
Below British Fall

At the falls, near Table Rock, is a spiral stair-case, constructed for the purpose of enabling visitors to descend and pass behind the sheet of water, to Termination Rock. The entrance behind the great sheet looks somewhat formidable, and sometimes deters visitors from making the attempt, but when it is accomplished, which is frequently done by ladies, the views behind this immense sheet are awfully sublime and terrific, and will fully repay the adventurous lover of the wonderful in nature, for the thorough drenching which he will receive and which constitutes all the danger of the attempt.

Mr. Starkey, who keeps an excellent house of refreshment, and a cabinet of minerals here, is very accommodating to visitors, and when desired, furnishes them with a dress and guide to facilitate their passage behind the falls. This place is extensively known, and much frequented

1840 Niagara # 1840 11104 is available in the following folio sizes

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