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In the early 1800's, shrewd entrepreneurs bought up the land surrounding the Falls
in order to control tourism dollars.By the late 1860s, a small group of people
concerned by this state of affairs founded the "Free Niagara" movement, which
held that the natural beauty of the land surrounding the Falls should be protected
from exploitation and free to the public. Members
urged New York state to reclaim the Falls and the area around it. After more than
15 years of pressure, the "Free Niagara" crusaders won their battle. The
Niagara appropriations bill was signed into law in 1885, creating the Niagara
Reservation, now known as Niagara Falls State Park. Besides
creating the oldest state park in America, the law set a precedent for the protection
of the nation's natural resources and heralded a major change in basic attitudes
toward nature. The
foremost leader of the "Free Niagara" movement was Frederick Law Olmsted, perhaps
best known for designing New York City's Central Park. As America's first landscape
architect, he championed natural beauty over manicured perfection in public parks.
Olmsted
applied his philosophy that parks should be places of natural beauty where "the
masses could be renewed" in his design for Niagara Falls State Park. The park's
network of footpaths through wooded areas and along the banks of the Niagara River,
reveal views of nature that awe and delight visitors. Native
vegetation and wildflowers display what Olmsted described as the "exceeding loveliness
of the rock foliage." The combination of natural beauty, unparalleled vistas and
public access found in Niagara Falls State Park is an enduring legacy of the man
who believed that Niagara Falls belongs to all of us. Park
Hours Niagara
Falls State Park is open year-round. Most park attractions are seasonal in nature,
open from mid-spring through the fall. Opening dates are dependent on weather
conditions, so please call us at the Visitor Center at (716) 278-1796 for specific
information.  Visitor
Center
In summer: Daily 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
In Winter: Daily
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closed Christmas and New Years.
Festival
Theater
Winter/Spring: Daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Summer:
Daily 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
* Film is shown every hour on the hour. Cave
of the Winds
Seasonal hours: Daily 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Maid
of the Mist
Seasonal hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Observation
Tower
Seasonal hours
Observation deck is generally open from late
March through December 31
Daily 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Niagara
Scenic Trolley
Seasonal hours: Daily 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Aquarium
of Niagara
May 29 - September 4: Daily 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
The
remainder of the year: Daily 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed
Thanksgiving and Christmas Falls
Fireworks
May 21 - September 6
Every Friday and Sunday 10:00 p.m.
Falls
Illumination: >Schedule | 
