New Exhibition!

October 4, 2018 - December 30, 2018

This exhibit begins at the beginning of the slave journey, with a photo of a slave pen. These pens were holding pens on the properties of the slave traders.  Two photos show the homes of the slaves who actually lived and worked on the different plantations..  One of these photos contrasts a slave home with the mansion of the wealthy slave trader (later President) Andrew Jackson.

The slave traders shipped their slaves both north and south to their new lives along the route of the Natchez Trace.   The photo of this primitive trail,  worn deeply into the ground  by the thousands who walked its path, captures the route they took.  The least lucky slaves were shipped into the deep south, to live lives too often marked by severe hardship.  The photo of their dilapidated living quarters in Louisiana shows how flimsily  built they were.

For more information about this exhibition, click the link below:
Road to Freedom

WHEN NIAGARA FALLS RAN DRY

Photograph showing the Canadian and American Falls with an Ice Bridge in the Gorge and “Shanty’s” on top of the ice. The Suspension Bridge in foreground.

In 1848, a unique spectacle occurred which some people considered to be a harbinger of the end of the world, water ceased to flow over the Horseshoe Falls. After an exceptionally cold winter, the thick ice on Lake Erie had begun to break up during a warm spell in March. On March 28 and 29, strong easterly winds drove huge amounts of ice across Lake Erie. The swift current then drew the ice into the mouth of the Niagara River, where it began to pile up. Reinforced by cold winds, the ice formed a dam between Buffalo and Fort Erie, cutting off the flow of water into the river and over the Falls for a period of thirty hours.

The change in the water level of the river began at about midnight on March 29, 1848, and by early morning, the entire river bed from Fort Erie to the crest of the Falls was exposed. Amongst the first to notice this alteration were the owners of the flour mills along the river bank, whose water wheels were demobilized as a result of the dry conditions. 

For more on this story, click the link below:
Dry Falls

There is always something going on Thursday Nights

November 1
Community Yoga @ 7pm

Join Shine On Yoga for a FREE community yoga class. Relaxing hatha yoga class, geared toward reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep quality and maintaining or re-gaining your health. No yoga experience necessary.  Wear comfortable clothing, bring a water bottle and a yoga mat if you have one. Recommended for ages 16 and up.  20 Participants max, please come early to ensure a spot!

November 1
Touch Tour: Museum Collection Behind-the-scene @ 6pm, 7pm & 8pm

Join Assistant Curator, Sara Byers as she takes you behind the scenes at the Niagara Falls History Museum. Explore the artefact storage room and get hands on with the museum collection. Understand what the museums collect and why. Learn stories behind some rarely seen artefacts and share your own insights. Free tour.
Tour starts at 6:00 & 7:00 sharp. Not suitable for young children. Tours will be first come first served on the day of the event and will be a maximum of 10 people.

November 8
Movies Capture Photographers: Fall Film Series @ 7pm

THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY (Peter Weir, Australia, 1982) 115 mins. 
Rated PG Drama/Romance: An Australian reporter navigates the political turmoil of Indonesia. With Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt. Awards: Oscar, Best Supporting Actress.

November 15
Community Yoga @ 7pm

Join Shine On Yoga for a FREE community yoga class. Relaxing hatha yoga class, geared toward reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep quality and maintaining or re-gaining your health. No yoga experience necessary.  Wear comfortable clothing, bring a water bottle and a yoga mat if you have one. Recommended for ages 16 and up.  20 Participants max, please come early to ensure a spot!

November 22
Movies Capture Photographers: Fall Film Series @ 7pm

FINDING VIVIAN MAIER (John Maloof, US, 2013) 83 mins. 
Rated PG Documentary: A nanny moonlights as a street photographer in Chicago, never showing her photographs to anyone. Awards: Oscar nomination, Best Documentary Feature

November 29
Community Yoga @ 7pm

Join Shine On Yoga for a FREE community yoga class. Relaxing hatha yoga class, geared toward reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep quality and maintaining or re-gaining your health. No yoga experience necessary.  Wear comfortable clothing, bring a water bottle and a yoga mat if you have one. Recommended for ages 16 and up.  20 Participants max, please come early to ensure a spot!
 

The Insiders

Become a Member

Museum membership is inexpensive and an affordable way to find out about our community. Your membership gets you free admission to the Museum and current edition of our publication “Circa”, which is filled with great articles on local history. Past editions are also available for sale in our Gift Shop.

• Individual Membership - $15
• Family Membership - $25

Educational Programs