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Museum Closure
Due to the current provincial lockdown, the Museum will be closed until further notice. However, you can join us online for our virtual programs.
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SAMUEL ZIMMERMAN
Bank of Clifton One Dollar Note, this bank was established by Zimmerman
Samuel Zimmerman, the man considered to be the "founder" of the City of Niagara Falls, was born on March 17, 1815 in Huntington County, Pennsylvania. Very little is known of his life before he immigrated to Canada in 1842, where he soon became a very prominent citizen. He was a shrewd businessman who quickly made a fortune in construction work. His first undertaking was the construction of four locks and an aqueduct on the Welland Canal. After that, he received a contract to build 129 miles of railway track for the Great Western Railway, thereby extending its lines to the Niagara River. Zimmerman was also instrumental in the construction of the second Suspension Bridge over the Whirlpool Rapids, in 1854-1855.
Zimmerman owned a fair amount of property in Clifton. In 1848, he had purchased the Clifton Hotel, and renovated and enlarged it. He had also bought out and demolished unsightly buildings in the surrounding area. Around 1850, he purchased 52 acres of property in Clifton, from the widow of Captain Ogden Creighton, the man who had established the village of Clifton. This land, which overlooked the American Falls, was the site on which Zimmerman later chose to build his estate. In addition to his Clifton holdings, Zimmerman owned most of the land in Elgin, the village which developed around the bridgehead on the Canadian side of the Suspension Bridge. As a result, Samuel Zimmerman increased his fortune substantially through his real estate ventures.
For more, click on link below:
Zimmerman
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CANADA DAY
July 1
Here are some fun activities for the family today!
Check out our Niagara Falls Seek and Find here:
https://niagarafallsmuseums.ca/pdf/seek-and-find-feb-2021.pdf (PDF)
We also have some Artefact Colouring pages here: https://niagarafallsmuseums.ca/pdf/artefact-colouring-pages-1.pdf (PDF)
And some Niagara Falls Museums’ Sites Colouring pages here:
https://niagarafallsmuseums.ca/pdf/museum-book-1.pdf (PDF)
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IMBIBE: A LECTURE SERIES “A HOT, HELLISH, & TERRIBLE LIQUOR”: RUM & THE TASTE OF EMPIRE IN COLONIAL NORTH AMERICA
July 8, 2021 @ 7pm
One of the first Europeans to taste rum, an English settler to Barbados named John Lingon, called the spirit “Kill-devil… a hot, hellish, and terrible liquor.” It wasn’t long, however, before his palate was in the minority. By the 18th century, rum was not only considered indispensable for Christmas parties, evening routs, and pirate ships, it was a commodity that greased the wheels of Britain’s empire and fueled the rebels who sought to destroy it in 1776. From pantry to table-top, taverns to the top brass, this lecture will explore how colonial people (in both Canada and the US) drank, traded, and fought over Lingon’s terrible ‘rum-bullion.’
Renée Salhany is an associate professor of history at Brock University, who researches the history of drink, drinkers and the trouble they got themselves into, particularly during the War of 1812 era.
https://brocku.ca/humanities/history/faculty-staff/renee-lafferty-salhany/
on Twitter: @rlaffsal
Click on the link to register on Zoom:
https://niagarafalls.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_74tRA74RTs-pjjgdU5HtYQ
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IMBIBE: A LECTURE SERIES GENTLEMEN CONNOISSEURS AND FINE WINE
July 15, 2021 @ 7pm
When we think of early-nineteenth century taverns, like the Battle Ground Hotel Museum, alcohol comes readily to mind. But who were the drinkers frequenting these public houses 200 years ago, and what were they drinking? These are important questions to ask, as what a person drank, how they drank it, and with whom (as well as how much they drank, and how they tolerated the inebriating effects) said a lot about them in the public eye. This lecture will explore the drinking habits and preferred beverages of tavern-goers in this period, focusing on gentlemen connoisseurs and fine wine.
Jesse Abbott is a PhD Candidate in Canadian History at the University of Waterloo. He studies a variety of topics in the pre-Confederation period, including masculinity, race, and alcohol. His current dissertation research focuses on martial masculinity and drink in the War of 1812, and the immediate post-war period.
Click on the link to register on Zoom:
https://niagarafalls.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GeJ-W3h-S0ukqpcz6oJk7Q
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IMBIBE: A LECTURE SERIES CROSSING THE LINE: HOW, WHERE AND WHEN TO DRINK IN NIAGARA AFTER PROHIBITION
July 22, 2021 @ 7pm
When prohibition ended in Ontario in 1927, it continued across the river in the United States and Americans flocked to Niagara. When US prohibition ended in 1933, it was replaced by a looser licensing regime than in Ontario, and Canadians flocked to the US. How did Niagarans react?
Dan Malleck is an associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences and the director of Brock’s Centre for Canadian Studies. He is an internationally recognized expert in drug and alcohol regulation and prohibition. Has spoken to audiences in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia about the challenges of regulating substances that are considered socially problematic, including cannabis, liquor, opiates, and cocaine.
Click on the link to register on Zoom:
https://niagarafalls.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_038GqE3vQOucItlrBMrLYA
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REPLAY: MUSEUM KIDS - FIRE STATION TOUR
July 29, 2021 @ 7pm
Take a look at this presentation which first aired this past August! Join Christine for a tour of Fire Station One in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Public Education Officer, Ron Massolin, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the station and all the cool trucks.
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/xTncbFVDZJ8
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History@Home:
Bringing the Museum to you
For those still hesitant to visit the museum in person, we have decided to bring the museum to you. Here are links to some new videos on our Youtube channel, designed to tell you more about some of the artifacts in our collection and the history of our famous City. Click on the links below to enjoy the videos:
Battle Ground Hotel Deconstructed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxDzglvFfUE
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