Why Niagara Falls Looked Way Different in 1901

Niagara Falls wasn’t always a postcard-perfect tourist spot. In the early 1900s, it was ground zero for an industrial revolution powered by the falls themselves. What began as a sacred site for Indigenous nations transformed into one of North America’s most powerful industrial hubs—fueled by the world’s first large-scale hydroelectric plants.In this episode, we dive into the forgotten rise and dramatic fall of Niagara Falls’ mills district. You’ll learn how Tesla and Westinghouse turned it into an electrical powerhouse, why major industries like aluminum and chemicals flocked to its shores, and how environmental disasters like Love Canal left a permanent scar. Today’s Niagara is a shadow of its roaring industrial past—but the ruins, tunnels, and power stations still tell a fascinating story.