Maid of the Mist
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The Maid of the
Mist
The Maid of the
Mist, after the Falls themselves is the most famous tourist attraction here at
the Niagara Falls. The actual boats used are each named Maid of the Mist, followed by a
different Roman
numeral. The boat starts off at a calm part of the Niagara
River, near the Rainbow
Bridge, and takes its passengers past the American
and Bridal
Veil Falls, then into the dense mist of spray inside the curve of the
Horseshoe
Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls. The tour is available
starting from either the Canadian
or US
side of the river, returning to the starting point in each
case. History: The first Maid of the
Mist was launched in 1846 as a ferry service between the Canadian and
American sides, pre-dating by two years the construction of the first Niagara
Falls Suspension Bridge at the site. However, with the opening of the
suspension
bridge, the ferry service lost business, and by 1854, became a
tourist attraction instead with the launch of a more luxurious boat.
Maid of the Mist: 1846–1854. Type: double-stack steamboat ferry. Engine: 1 sidewheel
steam Maid of the Mist I: Built in 1854. Years of service: 1854–1860. Length: 72 ft. Type:
single-stack steamer. Engine: paddle boat. While on his 1860 tour of Canada, Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), rode on the Maid of the Mist. However, with business dwindling and the resulting financial pressures the ships were sold. The impending American Civil War contributed to the issue and the final boat was sold to a Montreal firm in 1860. Formal service was not restored until 1895, when two new boats were constructed and launched under a new partnership, Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company.
Stereoscopic view of Maid of the Mist I, published c. 1901 Maid of the Mist I, this one sailed closer to Horseshoe Falls than any had
previously.
 Stereoscopic view of Maid of the Mist II, c.
1896-1906 Maid of the Mist II
These boats sailed the lower river until the 22nd of April 1955, when they burned in a pre-season accident. Later that year, they would be replaced by two new ships. The type and style of boat still seen today, were made of steel and powered by diesel engines.
 Maid of the Mist I
 Maid of the Mist II
The Maid of the Mist is
well known for its role in the 9th of July 1960, rescue of Roger
Woodward, a seven-year old boy who became the first person to survive
a plunge over the Horseshoe
Falls with nothing but a life jacket. The boat involved in the rescue
(known as Maid II) was retired
from service in 1983 and relocated to the Amazon
River, where it served as a missionary ship for years
after. Access to the river-level attraction on the Canadian side was provided by the Maid of the Mist Incline Railway, a funicular railway, between 1894 and 1990 to travel between street level and the boat dock. As this service proved increasingly inadequate in transporting the growing passenger base of the 1990's, four high-speed elevators replaced the railway by the start of the 1991 tourist season. The same year, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Diana, Princess of Wales, and their two sons, Princes William and Henry, rode on the Maid of the Mist. On the American side, the dock is reached by four elevators enclosed in the observation tower. Tourists wear blue raincoats on the Maid of the Mist to protect themselves from the misty waters. More ships have been added to the fleet.
 
Maid of the Mist III
Maid of the Mist IV
 Maid of the Mist V
 Maid of the Mist VI
 Maid of the Mist VII
The Little Maid
 Distinguished passengers:
I can honestly say I have never been so cold so fast. I had tightened
the cuffs of my anorak as tight as they could go. The force of the wind took the
wet, biting air up as far as my elbows. Rain, sleet and snow hit us as we were
as near as the tough little Maid could take us. AWESOME. Even Bear got off
frozen after this truly unique experience.
 ALL IN ALL WE DID
IT
A LIFETIME AMBITION BUT OH SO
COLD |
