| Niagara Falls State Park | |
|---|---|
 Niagara Falls State Park's overlook of theAmerican Falls, with theHorseshoe Falls in the distance | |
   | |
| Type | State park |
| Location | Prospect Street & Old Falls Street Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.[1] |
| Coordinates | 43°05′N79°04′W / 43.08°N 79.07°W /43.08; -79.07 |
| Area | 221 acres (0.89 km2)[2] |
| Created | 1885 (141 years ago) (1885)[3] |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Visitors | 9,529,325 (in 2016)[4] |
| Open | All year |
| Website | niagarafallsstatepark.com |
Niagara Reservation | |
| Location | Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. |
| Area | 435 acres (176 ha) (landmarked area) |
| Built | 1885; 141 years ago (1885) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000555[5] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | May 23, 1963[6] |
Niagara Falls State Park is a state park located inNiagara Falls, New York, United States. It is recognized as the oldeststate park in the United States, and contains theAmerican Falls, theBridal Veil Falls, and a portion of theHorseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls).
Prior to being protected, the lands surrounding Niagara Falls on both sides of the river were largely controlled by private interests, and public access to the falls was limited. Landscape architectFrederick Law Olmsted, an early champion of the falls' surroundings, began advocating for their preservation in the 1860s. In 1879, at the behest of the New York State Legislature, Olmsted and State SurveyorJames T. Gardner helped prepare a special report on the falls' conditions, which argued for increased public access to the falls and recommended that the state purchase lands for that purpose. The report was followed by a publicity and petitioning campaign that helped bring the issue to the public's attention.[7]
Olmsted and others formed the Niagara Falls Association in 1883, a group that aimed to lobby New York to acquire and protect the falls from private exploitation.[7] Their efforts succeeded later that year when, on April 30, 1883, a bill authorizing the "selection, location and appropriation of certain lands in the village of Niagara Falls for a state reservation" was signed into law by then-governorGrover Cleveland.[8][9] The act led to the establishment of theNiagara Reservation in 1885.[3][10] New York State AssemblymanThomas Vincent Welch figured prominently in getting the bill signed, and served as the first Superintendent of the Park for 18 years from its inception until 1903.
Niagara Falls State Park is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating state park in the United States[11][note 1] and the first established viaeminent domain.[3]
The impetus to protect the falls and improve their accessibility to the public was international[citation needed]; early lobbying for the park's creation was bolstered by similar plans that were proposed for theOntario side of the Niagara River. Although plans for aninternational park did not come to fruition, work to establish apark under Ontario provincial authority began in 1885, with the creation of theNiagara Parks Commission. The Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park, today known asQueen Victoria Park, was created in 1887.[10]
The Niagara Reservation's early design was accomplished by Olmsted and architectCalvert Vaux. The team completed their designs in 1887, with a focus on improving public access while preserving the landscape's natural and scenic elements, to the exclusion of commercial and resort-style attractions.[7]
The Niagara Reservation was declared a U.S.National Historic Landmark in 1963.[6][13] It is a major contributing element to theNiagara Falls National Heritage Area.[14]
A $44-million refurbishment of the park's facilities was completed in 2003. Work focused on improvements to the park's observation tower, visitor center, bridges, trails, and other infrastructure.[11]
In 2007, Niagara Falls State Park was named as the 10th most beautiful spot in America byThe Today Show.[15]
In addition to its views of theAmerican Falls,Bridal Veil Falls, and theCanadian Falls, the park overlooks theNiagara Gorge and allows access to theMaid of the Mist tour boats,Cave of the Winds,Goat Island, theProspect Point Observation Tower, a statue ofNikola Tesla, and theIMAX movieNiagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic which is shown at the Niagara Adventure Theater.[citation needed]
The park also offers a museum, food concession, a movie theater, a gift shop, fireworks, hiking and nature trails, picnic tables, recreation programs, and fishing. The Top of the Falls Restaurant, on Goat Island overlooking the Horseshoe Falls, is also available within the park.[16]
