The second activity of the second day of our Western New York family vacation (Day 2, Venue 2) was…read morethe Fort Niagara State Park in general, and Old Fort Niagara in specific. Operated since 1927 by a not-for-profit dedicated to the historic preservation of the site and providing interpretive programming, we were very excited to spend the afternoon exploring this living history museum! Taking up 250 acres of the state park's 504 acres, Old Fort Niagara is comprised of a modern museum and visitor center, the 1872 Fort Niagara Lighthouse, the North and South Redoubts which were built by the British in the 1770s, the Powder Magazine which was built by the French in 1757 for storing up to 50 tons of gunpowder, the Hot Shot Furnace built by the Americans in 1843 to heat cannon balls red hot, the Bake House built by the British in 1762 to replace the French-built original from the 1740s which was destroyed by fire, the long stone Provisions Storehouse built by the British in 1762 to hold 7000 barrels of food, the Gate of Five Nations rebuilt in 1930 to the same specifications as the French-made 1756 gate named in honour of the nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Dauphin Battery of cannons covering both the gate and the lower river, and the crown jewel of the fort, the French Castle. Built by the French in 1726 and called La Maison a Machicoulis, the three-story 'castle' is reputed to be the oldest building in the Great Lakes Basin. The history of the fort is deep and rich, with the area originally controlled by the Seneca people of the Iroquois League, until the French built their first wooden fort there in 1679 in order to better manage the fur trade. Controlling the mouth of the Niagara River where it empties in to Lake Ontario, the strategic site was expanded many times until it was captured by the British in 1759 during the French and Indian War. A Loyalist base in New York during the American Revolution, the fort was technically ceded to the United States in 1783, but the British retained control of it until the Jay Treaty was signed thirteen years later. During the War of 1812, the British re-captured the fort during a daring nighttime raid, and held it until the war's end. Soldiers were trained on-site for the Spanish-American War and World War I, and it served as a POW camp for 1200 German soldiers captured during World War II. While the US Army deactivated the fort in 1963, the Coast Guard continues to operate on the riverbank bottomland below the fort. As a family, we absolutely loved this historic site, and really appreciated the generations of work that went into restoring it. We found the museum to be modern and thoughtfully designed, the grounds well kept, and the historic buildings well documented with an uncommon eye for detail which impressed even our history buffs. We especially liked the vivid descriptions of the lives of the common soldiers stationed at the fort across the eras, French, British, and American. Likewise the passion and infectious enthusiasm of the reenactors really made the site come alive. I mean, who else is going to wear a wool uniform in the heat and humidity of a mid-summer afternoon?! Overall our family had a wonderful time exploring Old Fort Niagara and we would be delighted to return in order to delve deeper into its rich history!

This is a nice visit for history buffs. The grounds are well maintained and the views are…read morebeautiful. It is a little pricey for admission but I do understand the need for funds to help with the upkeep/fundraising. There are several buildings with informative displays and many pieces of history to look at. There is a lot of walking so be warned, especially on a hot sunny day. There are cannon and musket demonstrations as well.

The night we were here, they had a reenactment of historic times. It was interesting. The…read morepresentation started at dusk. Go early to get parking. It was hard to hear sometimes because there were a lot of people.

In the center of a street in the center of the quiet, quaint, friendly Ontario town of…read moreNiagara-on-the-Lake is what is arguably NotL's most recognized and enduring symbol. Located on an island in the center of Queen Street (and near the courthouse), the Tower -- also known as the Cenotaph -- was erected in 1922. It's the only war memorial in Canada that can be found in the middle of a street. Built in the wake World War I and built for $8,000, it was designed by Charles Wilmott, a noted Toronto architect and Member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (MRAIC). The clock itself is well kept and has a classic look with Roman numeral numbering. I love the red brick that makes up a majority of the structure. There is also an understated plaque, and engravings dedicated to war veterans and names of those lost in the World Wars. And in front of it all, some beautiful flowers. It's a great clock tower ... and a must-see in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Another National Historic Site checked off! Fort Mississauga is worth a visit if you are at…read moreNiagara-on-the-Lake, as it is not too far from the Historic Old Town. This building is full of history and you will definitely enjoy knowing its story and the strategic value it held. I especially enjoyed the views with the fort and the lake side-by-side. The building has recently gone through a renovation in 2020 - 2021, and a walking trail was constructed leading to the shoreline. This is why the building is now in much better shape with the walls intact. A new roof has also been installed on top. I hope one day we could see what is inside or have tours at certain times in the week. Winter is a bit harder to come by as the trails are not maintained.

This is a nice, free, historic site to visit at Niagara-on-the-lake town…read more We walked along the lake at Niagara-on-the-lake, and we visited this place along on the way. Just walk along the Front street into golf course and you would see it. I highly recommend it during the visit of this small town. This site is small, but it is still well maintained and you could learn a lot about history. The view from here is awesome.

Recently I was at Niagara Falls State park and I stopped at a placard I have driven by hundreds of…read moretimes. You may have as well. This is what is said: "First House Built By Judge Porter In 1808. Many Notable Visitors And Friendly Indians Were Received Within Its Walls." Its standing in a open lot, so the house is long gone. Judge Augustus Porter was a chief land surveyor for the Connecticut Land Company in the late 1790's. He is thought to be one of the first white settlers to the area (still occupied by various Indian tribes at the time). He bought this land near Niagara Falls, and built a sawmill (using the water power) and some other things. He was also a politician at the time, and was the State Assembly man for the Genesee and Ontario District at some point. He and his brother understood the value of the Falls as a tourist attraction and were able to make that happen. They built a bridge to Goat Island, got a ferry to cross the river, and planned gardens for people to come and enjoy. He was a busy man, and had a general store in the area, and then was a judge (the first for Niagara County) and postmaster (the first for Niagara Falls). A man of many talents. This was the site of the first home he built in the area. He had 5 children. Worth a quick stop along the road.

The Prospect Point Observation Tower (also known as Niagara Falls Observation Tower) is a great…read moreway to admire the full grandeur of the falls from Niagara Falls, NY. Although it is set a short distance away from the edge of the falls, it is close enough to the falls to occasionally enjoy a refreshing spray. From here, you can get a clear view of all three falls, including American Falls, as well as the mesmerizing rapids. The boarding area for the Maid of the Mist tours is located at the base of the tower, accessed by a high-speed elevator from the observation deck. The base of the tower also provides access to the Crow's Nest, a smaller observation area located much closer to the falls. You do not need to go on a Maid of the Mist tour to go to the lower level, but there is a small fee for the deck and elevator.

One of the natural wonders of the world The water flows through at the Bridal Veil, Horseshoe and…read moreAmerican Falls.Such breath taking views great for scenic pictures. Not to be missed.Plus you get to board the Maid of the Mist and par take in an exciting experience with the falls.C8me and enjoy nature's true beauty, it has so much to see and explore.

I did a tour of Graycliff as part of the All Day All Wright tour a while ago anat that time it was…read moreinteresting but also a bit disappointing both because the renovations were ongoing and we arrived late due to traffic so the tour was cut short. Seeing online that Graycliff had just opened a new visitor center and was in full swing I decided to make a one day trip to see it again. Located about a half hour southwest of Buffalo and about an hour northeast of Erie, Graycliff sit right on the Lake Erie shore. There is a small sign at the end of the long drive that leads you to the new visitor center. The center is set up just outside the area that Wright designed. The center is very modern but it does have elements that are inspired by Wright, the horizontal lines of the building, the glass that allows you to see through the building is similar to Graycliff. Inside there is a very nice gift shop, some interesting exhibits and an unusual unisex bathroom. I had signed up for the extended tour and we had a nice group who all had some experience with Wright before, including one guy who had done extensive work in building the new visitor center. The tour starts in the visitor center with a very well made video giving some of the history of Wright, the Martins and Graycliff. After that we went through the Picking Garden which was very attractive and smelled wonderful. We then learned about the layout of the outside, including that the driveway was oriented to track the movement of the sun on the summer solstice. We were also informed about the history of the site, the local materials being used and the history of the house after the Martins had to give it up. We also were told about the water features and how the house was oriented to allow views through the house to see the lake. Although this was the 3rd project Darwin Martin had hired Wright for (the Darwin Martin House and the Larkin Company Adminstration Building were the others) here the client was Mrs. Martin and this was to be a summer house so the overall design is a bit unique. The timing of the project was also crucial as Wright had finished his Prairie Style and the Usonian style was not yet developed. Wright had also gone through a number of personal issues and public scandals so this commission was helpful in bridging a difficult period. Once inside Graycliff you realize that there are many common Wright elements, the use of natural materials, the importance of the hearth as the heart of the house and how he had opened up the common areas with a flow. Graycliff is unique in how it is oriented to the lake with huge windows on both sides. We also got to see the second floor and the second floor of the smaller second house that initially was the garage and chauffeur's quarters and later used by Martin's daughter's family. I have to compliment our docent Brian who did a great job of guiding us through the house and property while supplying information, pointing out details and just being very entertaining. Wright was a complex person, while a genius and visionary he also had personal issues and could be difficult to work with, Brian gave a nice balanced view of Wright, his relationship to the Martins and how Graycliff came to be, plus its history and restoration. On my previous visit I had enjoyed Graycliff, but also found it a bit disappointing, this visit reflects the great job that has been done on finishing the restoration and furnishing the property to best effect. While not as flashy as some of the better know Wright designs, Graycliff is well worth a visit for its historical significance to Wright and to see how he was in transition and developing new and different ideas. A great visit and I am so glad I took the time for a second visit.

Graycliff is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's residential designs and is often regarded as the bridge…read morebetween his Prairie houses of the early 1900s and later masterpieces, such as Fallingwater (I look forward to visiting one day). Designed by Wright for Isabelle and Darwin D. Martin (and unlike the Martin house, which you should also visit), the estate sits on an 8.5-acre bluff overlooking Lake Erie. It's about 25 miles southwest of Buffalo, New York. And I did not realize this important tidbit: the gardens and landscape designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman, who worked with Wright. The property was built between 1926 and 1931 as the summer home for the Martin family. Also, Graycliff is a New York State Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Importnat note: the Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House and Graycliff Conservancy are two separate nonprofits -- I did not know that before my visit. The two even have distinct missions. But they each have the common goal to preserve and share the history of the Martin family and Wright's work. I highly recommend visiting both sites. And be sure to check the schedule and tour times. Outside of the welcome center, gift shop and adjacent garden, you must sign up for a paid tour to see the rest of the buildings on site. In the central house, Wright effectively dissolved the traditional boundary between indoors and outdoors. There is local limestone, ochre stucco and cedar shingles and, if you keep a watchful eye, you will see Wright's designs at work: triangles, circles, hearts, diamond-shapes and other shapes are embedded and featured throughout the grounds and in the architecture. Graycliff was also personally significant for Wright. During the mid-1920s his career and finances were in turmoil. The Martins, longtime friends as well as clients, commissioned Graycliff at a moment when relatively few of Wright's designs were being built. Over time, many architectural historians view the project as helping sustain his practice during one of the most difficult periods of his life. And last interesting tidbit: The Martin family owned the property until after Isabelle and Darwin died. It was sold in 1951 to the Piarist Fathers, an order of Roman Catholic Priests from Hungary. They lived in and used Graycliff until 1997 (even built buildings and structures), when the property was sold. Graycliff was actual set to be demolished for condominiums -- can you imagine?! A few tips for your visit: -If you are driving a larger vehicle (large trucks, RV's, camper vans, vehicles pulling trailers, call in advance. The team will work to accommodate your vehicle. Do not miss the brand new visitor center. It has interactive educational features, an informative video and an excellent gift shop, with snacks on site. -Parking is out front at no cost. -A portion of all tours is outside, rain or shine. -Wear comfortable clothing and comfortable walking shoes. -Apparently, stiletto heels are not allowed in the main house to protect the restored floor. -Only service animals are allowed on the grounds.

The original lighthouse was constructed here in 1873, a wooden pyramid-shaped tower at the end of a…read morepier that extended 880 feet into Lake Ontario. It was 32 feet tall and was topped by a lantern. An old photograph shows it had a black base and white upper half. In 1930 or so, with not much commerce here to protect, the lighthouse was relocated to the grounds of the Olcott Yacht Club. It remained there until 1963 when it was dismantled. This new replica was constructed in 2003 based on those photographs. A full scale replica, it remains today on the shore and not on a pier. The interior is open with the ground floor a bunch of displays with some historic photos and a lot of brochures of Olcott area accommodations and attractions. [Review 1416 of 2024 - 420 in New York - 22439 overall]