Archive

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.

Eden Electrified: Industrial Utopian Dreams and the Promise of Niagara Falls

As Niagara Falls became increasingly industrialized in the late 1800s, the region represented promise and opportunity — a perfect place for dreamers to imagine a utopia, or an ideal society.

Endnotes: A “From Russia. . . With Log!” Follow-up

We revisit the intriguing story a Bell P-39 fighter’s trip to the Soviet Union.

Ambush at Devil’s Hole: Massacre or Job Action?

On the surface, the Devil’s Hole “Massacre” of 1763 seemed to be a violent slaughter of British soldiers by the Seneca Indians. But new research reveals this event may instead be the earliest recorded job action in Western New York.

A Visit to Niagara Falls

For centuries, people of all backgrounds and walks of life have recorded their impressions of Niagara Falls. Jack Wysocki provides a survey of these viewpoints, as well as the accompanying development — good and bad — of one of Western New York's most significant geographic features.

Western New York Heritage

The Archive