Maid of the Mist, one of North America’s longest running tourist attractions, will extend its 2015 season through November 8, adding one week to the season, which typically concludes at the end of October.

“We are announcing this extension early to allow both our guests and tour operators to plan for the additional operational dates,” said Christopher Glynn, Maid of the Mist president. “We are having another highly successful season, and this will allow even more tourists visiting Niagara Falls to enjoy the spectacular vista that is Niagara Falls.”

November 1-8, Maid of the Mist boats will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Off season improvements to Maid of the Mist facilities, including new upper and lower gangways, along with a new dock elevator for those requiring assistance, will enable the iconic boats to operate in low water, which begins each November 1.

Paul Gromosiak has dedicated much of his life teaching others about the beauty and wonder of Niagara Falls. On

Photo courtesy Tim Baxter

Friday, July 10th local and state officials rewarded Niagara’s “Unofficial Historian” with a ceremony to unveil a plaque in his honor at the Heritage Park in Niagara Falls at the corner of Buffalo Avenue and Main Street.

“Of course I love Niagara Falls, I have since I was a boy,” Paul Gromosiak told the assembled crowd. “We have stories that need to be told to the world the right way.”

The former educator, who has no knowledge of the ceremony in advance, was visibly moved when the plaque was revealed in his honor. The plaque reads “Listen! Hear the wind; the thundering waters, too; the gulls, soaring send the word of God to you.” 

Photo courtesy Tim Baxter

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster also officially designated July 10th as “Local History Day”, in honor of the dedication of Gromosiak’s plaque and gave him the key to the City. Ironically, July 10th is also the birthday of Nikola Tesla, the scientist who created AC current (alternating current) and was instrumental in the creation of Niagara’s first power plant.

Gromosiak has been an advocate for preserving the history and physical beauty of the Niagara region and has written numerous books on the subject. Gromosiak has also appeared in various documentaries and films on the region and has often spoken out against “stunting” at Niagara Falls, including the wire walk of Nik Wallenda.

The remains of the once majestic Schoellkopf Power Station Number 3 can now be viewed up close from the bottom of the Niagara Gorge thanks to the completion of a brand new elevator open to the public.The elevator is the part of the new Maid of the Mist dock location which was constructed in 2014 by the Mark Cerrone Construction and LP Ciminelli firms.

The Schoellkopf Plant, considered state of the art when built in 1904, partially collapsed into the Niagara River on June 7th, 1956. The remainder of the plant was shut down for good in 1962 with the completion of the Robert Moses Power Plant down river in Lewiston.

The area is now the location for the new Maid of the Mist winter dock facility. The creation of a new docking location by the Maid of the Mist Corporation cost a reported $32 million dollars and was necessary after Hornblower Inc. won the bidding rights to the operation of the popular tourism boat ride on the Canadian side of the river.

The elevator at the top of the Niagara Gorge is easily accessible from the Schoellkopf Museum just 50 yards away. The thirty second ride takes you down to the location where the penstocks for Power Station Number 3 were once located and allows visitors to look up at the rock wall where scars from the massive structures destruction still remain.

This location also provides access to a path along the bottom of the Niagara Gorge which hikers can take down river to the Whirlpool Bridge.

The site has been put on the National Register for Historic Places and up till now could only be safely viewed from above or across the river.

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