Archive

Batavia’s Civil War hero was also responsible for enduring changes to American military tactics and policies.

At the Brink: Confederate Conspirators or Peace Brokers in Canada?

Using period letters and primary sources, the author sheds light on the supposed “Niagara Falls peace negotiations” that were proposed less than a year before the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

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.

The Road to Camp Sumter: Wilson’s Ira S. Pettit

Ira Pettit’s journey from Wilson to the horrors of Andersonville provides an evocative look at a Civil War Everyman.

The Remarkable Caroline G. Parker Mountpleasant, Seneca Wolf Clan

Traditional, yet progressive, the sister of “Grant’s Indian” left a lasting impact on both the Victorian and Native societies she touched.

For I Never Would Have Surrendered: The 1866 Fenian Invasion of Canada

After fighting to preserve the Union in the American Civil War, hundreds of Irish immigrants were eager to win their homeland's freedom from the United Kingdom. Although the Fenian Brotherhood failed in its mission to capture Canada, the cross-border raids would have a lasting impact.

Crossing to Freedom: Harriet Tubman and John A. Roebling's Niagara Suspension Bridge

In the mid-19th century thousands of escaped slaves dreamed of crossing the Niagara River to the free soil of Canada. Many were led to this region by Harriet Tubman. New research aims to uncover the remains of a bridge she used.

"Old Probabilities" Albert Myer and the U.S. Weather Bureau

Using methods he developed during the Indian Wars and the Civil War, General Albert Myer and the U.S. Signal Corps helped modernize the shipping industry with timely storm forecasting. "Old Probabilities" saved countless lives through his efforts to have the weather tracked worldwide.

Western New York Heritage

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