Archive

Colonel Peter A. Porter and the Emersons

When Peter A. Porter died in 1864, many suggested an elegy he penned for a close friend could, indeed, be applied to himself. The mention of a Harvard classmate in the elegy prompted a quest to learn more about both young men during their college years at Harvard.

Metamorphosis of a War Criminal: Bell’s Rocket Genius

Following the Second World War, Dr. Walter Dornberger was one of many former Nazis who launched a second career in America’s space program.

Tourism, Trade and Tuscarora Beadwork at Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls had been a trade center long before the falls became world famous. As tourism in the region grew, so did the demand for the beautiful beadwork made by the Tuscarora Artisans.

The Niagara Gorge Belt Line

While the Maid of the Mist is certainly the longest-running sightseeing tour in Niagara Falls, the Great Gorge Route was the most popular for a time. John Slater dives into the international railroad line that attracted millions.

What to do with the Dead? Niagara’s Oakwood Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery, opened in 1852, was typical of the Rural Cemetery Movement — but far from ordinary. Designed by railroad engineer Theodore Judah, it’s the only cemetery with a section dedicated to Niagara’s daredevils.

Amos W. Sangster’s Niagara

Known as the “Painter of the Niagara Frontier,” Amos Sangster is best known for his historic series of etchings, published from 1886 to 1889, which chronicled the complete Niagara River from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

Marilyn Monroe and the Making of 'Niagara'

George Bailey recalls the filming of Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1952 and reflects on its lasting legacy.

The Grand Enterprise: LaSalle on the Niagara

The story of La Salle's exploration of the Great Lakes is well known, but many mysteries surround his ship, the Griffon. The first part of this two-part story presents new interpretations of this storied ship's design.

Western New York Heritage

The Archive