NIAGARA FALLS Niagara Falls State Park is the nation's oldest state park. Established in 1885, the park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, America's great landscape architect who also designed Central Park in New York City. In geological terms, Niagara Falls is quite young, its formation beginning at the end of the Ice Age. Over 12,000 years ago, the water originally plummeted over the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, a cliff situated at what is now Lewiston. The force of the water wore away the rock moving the falls almost seven miles upstream until it reached its present location. The tremendous volume of water flowing over the falls produces nearly 2.5 million kilowatts of electricity from hydroelectricity plants in Canada and the United States. Next to the falls is The Niagara Falls State Park. The region was designed to allow visitors to interact with nature. In addition to incomparable views of the amazing Niagara Falls, the park offers numerous hiking trails such as The Niagara Gorge Trail System, which extends from Niagara Falls, New York north to Lewiston, New York. DEVIL'S HOLE "Devil's Hole," a state park situated about two miles south of Lewiston, was named after a 1763 massacre where the Senecas ambushed a wagon train transporting goods along the portage. After killing and scalping dozens of British troops, the Indians destroyed the oxen and carts before ambushing another contingent of soldiers sent to aid their stricken brothers. The sole survivors of the massacre were two men and a drummer boy from the wagon train, and a few from the relief column. Today the area still retains its mystique and natural beauty for the visitor to experience. ERIE CANAL The Erie Canal was proposed in 1808 and completed in 1825. The canal links the waters of Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east. Considered an engineering marvel when it was built, some scholars called it the Eighth Wonder of the World. The Erie Canal came about as the country and commerce west of the Appalachian Mountains opened up and people needed a cheaper way to transport goods and produce. The construction of a canal was proposed as early as 1768. It took almost 50 years before Governor Dewitt Clinton broke ground for the construction of the canal in 1817. In those early days, it was bitingly referred to as "Clinton's Big Ditch," but when it was finally completed in 1825, it was the engineering marvel of its day. The original canal was soon enlarged between 1836 and 1862 in order to accommodate the growing demands of water traffic. In 1903, the state again decided to enlarge the canal by the construction of what was termed the "Barge Canal", consisting of the Erie Canal and the three chief branches of the State system--the Champlain, the Oswego, and the Cayuga and Seneca Canals. The final canal was completed in 1918, stretching 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo. Today the Erie Canal is mainly used by recreational boats rather than cargo-carrying barges. OLD FORT NIAGRA The past lives on in the historic battle sites around Old Fort Niagara. Preserved fort structures, including the oldest buildings in the Great Lakes Basin, dot the landscape for the visitor to explore. For nature lovers, there are plenty of parks and outdoor areas to be enjoyed. Be sure to check out Bond Lake Nature Center & Park, Fort Niagara State Park, or Four Mile Creek State Park, and Joseph Davis State Park for some open space and historical sites. You might just be inspired by the Old Niagara Fort’s magnificent Lake Ontario setting and beautiful lighthouse. YOUNGSTOWN Youngstown was one of the first settlements to grow outside Fort Niagara in the late 1700s. The village was incorporated in 1854, and the first village election was held on October 4, 1854. Youngstown was named after early Niagara frontiersman John Young. Today, visitors to this historic village experience Americana, enjoy waterfront parks and the splendor of the Niagara River, and find charming stores, restaurants and hotels. Youngstown was also the site of the Battle of La Belle Famille, known as one of the bloodiest and most fierce battles of the French and Indian War. As a result of this battle, the French held Fort Niagara for some years before it was regained by the British in the late 1700s. TONAWANDA AND NORTH TONAWANDA Known as the “Twin Cities” and the “Western Gateway to the Erie Canal,” both Tonawandas figured prominently in the history of Western New York. Their waterfront position at the convergence of the Erie Canal and the Niagara River offers visitors a prime location to enjoy the attractions of the region including entertainment, recreation, shopping, tours and boating. A must-see on the visitor’s list is the Erie Canalway Trail, which is nearly 500 miles long. The Trail begins at Gateway Harbor Park and moves east along the Canal, following the entire New York State canal system. The Gateway Harbor Park is a haven for backpacking, bicycling, walking, jogging and, for winter enthusiasts, cross-country skiing.