Niagara Falls

This is what the banks of the Niagara River looked like in 1878.  At that time the Falls and surrounding lands were privately owned and exploited for business purposes.  Buildings existed on the bank in all stages of preservation and decay, which sparked a political campaign named the Free Niagara Association.  Inspired by this political pressure, the New York State Legislature passed a bill calling for state preservation of the Niagara region.  In 1885, the government awarded $1.4 million to landowners, the single largest award--$525,000 going to the Porter family for Goat Island.  That same year Niagara Falls became a state park--the first state park in United States History.