Niagara Falls

The city was settled after the American Revolution when pioneers emigrated to Fort George at Niagara Lake. The site was strategic during the War of 1812, in which the bloodiest battle of the war occurred at Lundy's Lane. This proved to be the turning point of the war, which ended shortly afterward in a draw. It was an early fur-trading area, until the railroad brought the first tourists to Niagara Falls around 1840. The Canadian side of the Falls was not developed into a tourist attraction until the 1880's, when the Niagara Parks Commission was formed to preserve the area. To this day, the agency is responsible for the beautifully landscaped parklands along the Niagara River.