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OFFICIAL BLOG OF NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM |
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ANOTHER NIAGARA FIRST
By GEORGE BAILEY
2010-05-11 17:19:05
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Today visitors each year drive thousands of vehicles from various parts of North America to see Niagara Falls.But in 1904 a car built in nearby Buffalo, N.Y., known as The Red Jacket became the first “horseless carriage” to take the long bumpy ride to Niagara Falls.
It must have been a fascinating trip since there were no highways at the time.There were five unknown people who made the trip in the open-air vehicle. Apparently, the trip made them sore and gave them motion-sickness.
This five-seater rear entrance car used a water-cooled, two cylinder engine and its transmission was a three-speed selectiview type (techies like this type of information). Lighting was by a single headlamp. With much brass, including upholstery binding strips, it cost $1,500.An extreme amount of money at the time.
This is a far cry from the air-conditioned vehicles and motor coaches that arrive in Niagara today.
For more details, visit:
http://www.niagarafallstourism.com
Comments
Nisha
Niagara falls is a really interesting place to be explored. I would surely visit the Niagara falls in my next trip.
Ali
I live in New York City, went there about 7 or 8 times now and still yet there is so much to see. I still have a list of places there to go on my next visit. Did they have the bridge in 1904 to drive the car over? If yes, was it Peace or Rainbow bridge they took? Rainbow bridge looks too new to me to be existing way back at that time.
George
Ali, My thought is that the car came across on a rail car over the International Railway Bridge built in 1873 between Buffalo and Fort Erie. The Rainbow Bridge wasn't operating until 1941 and the Peace Bridge opened in 1927.
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Photos by George Bailey...
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