In 1800, Niagara Falls was considered the epitome of North America's original promise and inexhaustible resources. After being photographed, the rolling torrent of Niagara Falls thrilled audiences around the world, making pilgrimages to what were then remote places by crossing the border between New York state and Ontario, considered a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Naturally, it didn't take long for humans to make money from Niagara Falls — first through tourism, and then by the end of the century, Canada and the United States were also eager to harness the falls' hydropower capacity.
The William Birch Rankine Power Station was Canada's first major power station in the world. It was built in 1905 and the electricity it produced over the course of a century has contributed to Canada's own success.
In July 2021, this well-preserved ancient industrial fortress – the rusty remnants of steampunk machinery – awakened after 15 years of slumber and became a museum to show the imprint of time.
Over time, a series of power stations were built on the Niagara River. The Niagara Park Power Station (see top right corner of the photo above) is special because it is easily accessible.
The former Schoellkopf power station, located beneath the New York portion of the falls, was eroded in 1956 and only ruins remain. Visitors can visit Niagara Power Vista, another factory located 7 miles downstream.
But the Niagara Park power station is located right next to the ferocious mouth of the falls.
The government watchdog group that has been managing Canada since 1895 called the station "the only intact, decommissioned hydroelectric power plant in the world."
There is no denying the industrial grandeur of this space. When the last mechanic lowered the wrench, the main generator floor remained almost exactly as it was. Even the old clock at the end of the hall was intact.
At peak capacity, 11 generators will capture the potential energy of the river as the river descends 180 feet into a 2,000-foot-long tunnel that dumps at the bottom of Horseshoe Falls.
At night, the natural majesty of illuminating the water with dazzling colors is a tradition that begins when humans learn to generate voltage from the water, and this is the digital projection performance performed by the power station.
Although it is a relic of Edwardian technology, it is carefully preserved, but visitors can feel a little outdated when they experience it.
Everything you've seen so far is open in 2021. After 2022, the museum's attractions will be more ingrained.
At that time, the passage under the generator floor will be ready to welcome visitors safely. The new glass elevator will take you deep into the abandoned waterway – this is the "spillway".
The lowest point of descent will be a breathtaking view of the end of the century-old Tailrace Tunnel, which overlooks the thunderous bottom of horseshoe falls. Few people are able to see this landscape without a railing.
The Niagara Parks power station is located on the edge of Niagara Falls. We are about a 30-minute walk from the Rainbow Bridge connecting Canada and the United States to the power station.