Architectural Structures
American Inclined Railway
The Prospect Park Incline Railway was built in 1845 to replace a staircase which had been there since 1818. Located north of the American Falls in New York, the Incline Railway was built by General Parkhursst Whitney, who was the owner of the Eagle Tavern and the Cataract Hotel.
As the name indicates, the railway is located near Prospect Point. The two rail tracks were enclosed, as shown in George E. Curtis’ image, and it's function was to transport passengers from the top to the bottom of the gorge. A cable was used on each rail to move the open-air railcar up on one side and down on the other. Each car was fitted to carry between 15-20 people at a time, and in case of emergency, there were stairs located next to one side of the railway.
During the 1860s, the “Shadow of the Rock” tourist attraction was constructed. There were two buildings with change rooms and a covered walkway so that tourists could walk outdoors to witness the American Falls.
After forty-two years of operation, the Prospect Park Incline Railway was demolished and was replaced by elevators in the Prospect Point Observation Tower. The Incline Railway now resides on the Canadian side of the Falls.
Presently, the Falls Incline Railway acts as a “fast & convenient link” between the tourist area surrounding Fallsview and the Table Rock Centre. It is open throughout the year as the carriages are accessible and climate-controlled. It’s main attraction is that it provides a unique view of the Horseshoe Falls which riders enjoy while ascending or descending. The Canadian Incline Railway was built in 1966.
https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/falls-incline-railway/
First Public Drinking Fountain
Located alongside the Wissahickon Creek, Philadelphia’s first public drinking fountain was built in 1854. It was meant to serve travellers as it provided them with clean, natural spring water. The fountain was constructed of white marble, and it was noted that the spring water flowed through a spout which bore a lion’s head. This sits in a granite niche where the marble basin was located.
There is an inscription above the drinking basin that reads “Pro bono publico” and one beneath the basin that reads, “Esto perpetua.” Together these phrases mean “For the public good”, “Let it remain forever.”
https://kids.kiddle.co/Drinking_fountains_in_Philadelphia
https://www.komoot.com/highlight/1435663
Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art
On February 26, 1876 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art (PMSIA) was chartered. It was heavily inspired by the South Kensington Museum of London, which is now called the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. It was founded as result of the Centennial International Exhibit which was held in Pennsylvania that same year. Entrance exams were held on December 10, 1877 with the first classes commencing on December 17, 1877 with an enrolment of 100 students. The curriculum was designed to focus on drawing and modelling techniques for sculptures.
Despite being part of the same institution, the school and the museum are located in separate buildings. The school, which was sometimes referred to as the School of Applied Art, became the University of the Arts.
During the 1900s, the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art saw various additions and changes; most notably being its name. On April 17, 1938, the school was officially changed and renamed the the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art. Similarly, the museum becomes the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
https://library.uarts.edu/archives/uartsnamechanges.html
Terrapin Tower
The boardwalk and tower seen in George E. Curtis’ photographs, were built separately. In 1816, brothers Peter and Judge Augustus Porter took possession of Goat Island in Niagara Falls, NY. In 1827, they constructed Terrapin Bridge which was a wooden boardwalk set on a shallow part of the Niagara river. It was 300 feet long and ran from Goat Island to 10 feet beyond the edge of the Falls. This provided a spectacular vantage point which allowed tourists to get extremely close to the Horseshoe Falls.
It was not until 1833 that the Porter Brothers built Terrapin Tower, also knows as Horseshoe Tower and Prospect Tower, to add to the experience created by the boardwalk. It was the first tower to be built at Niagara Falls. The tower sits at the eastern edge of the Horseshoe Falls and is estimated to have been between 30 - 45 feet high and 12 feet in diameter. The stones used in the construction of the tower came from the surrounding area. A staircase led to a circular balcony at the top of the tower, which can be seen in George E. Curtis’ photos. From this spot, tourists and visitors were able to experience a unique view of both the Falls and the gorge below.
In 1873, Terrapin Tower was demolished by the Porter brothers. There was a new tower planned for Prospect Park, and planners wanted to avoid competition between the two. However, the new proposed tower was never built and Terrapin Tower was never rebuilt. It is also noted that the tower was blown up because the Porter brother no longer wanted it, not because of a newly planned tower. What is agreed upon, is that the boardwalk remained intact and in use until sometime after 1934.
https://niagarafallsmuseums.ca/discover-our-history/history-notes/terrapintower.aspx
Three Sisters Islands
The Three Sisters Islands are located to the Southeast of Goat Island, Niagara Falls, NY. There are three historic walking bridges that link Goat Island to the Three Sisters Islands. This provides visitors with a unique view of the waters surrounding the Falls. In addition to the three, there is a smaller fourth island that is present.
These islands gain their names from the daughters of General Parkhurst Whitney, who was an American commander during the War of 1812. After the war, he became a prominent businessman, owning the Cataract Hotel in Niagara Falls, NY. The first island is named Asenath, the second is named Angeline, and the third is named Celinda Eliza. The fourth and smallest is named after Solon, who was the sisters’ younger brother.
http://www.infoniagara.com/attractions/Attractions-Niagara-USA/Three-Sisters-Island.aspx
Railway Suspension Bridge
Niagara saw the completion of the world’s first Railway Suspension Bridge. It was the work of John Augustus Roebling, who designed a two-tiered bridge with the top tier designated for trains and the bottom tier for carriages and people.
The Railway Suspension Bridge spanned across the Niagara River connecting Canada and the United States. Construction of the bridge began in September of 1852 and was completed by April of 1855. The suspension bridge was built to support trains, carriages, and people. It was 821 feet long and cost $400,000.
Due to time and usage, the suspension bridge required repair work from 1879-1880. Steel replaced the wood truss and it also underwent reinforcement and maintenance work with the supervision of Leffert L. Buck. The stone towers of the bridge were then replaced with steel towers in 1886. Despite these changes, the bridge was increasingly unable to keep up with the frequent traffic of heavy locomotives. It was then decided to replace it with a new steel arch bridge.
The Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge was in operation until the late 1890s. At this time, it was replaced by a Steel Arch Bridge.
https://niagarafallsmuseums.ca/ts4fsuww-yyl.aspx
Cataract House
The Cataract House Hotel was one of the largest hotels in Niagara Falls, NY. It was built in 1825 on Main Street along the bank of the Niagara River. Initially, it was a three story hotel that was 114 feet long and made out of oak logs. To extend the original building by 100 feet, a narrow frame structure was added to the north side. A four to five story structure was added in the center to create a better view of the Niagara River Rapids.
In the early 1830s, the hotel was purchased by General Parkhurst Whitney, who had previously run it with his son Solon and his sons-in-law. Upon purchasing it, Whitney added another four storey section to the hotel and renamed it the “Cataract House”. Then between 1842-1843, he added another structure to the hotel which was nearly as large as the previous one. Shortly after between 1845-1846, he added to the hotel once more. This addition was five storeys and had a two storey kitchen.
In 1860, the center portion of the hotel was expanded to the edge of the river. However, in the mid 1880s, it was removed as the Niagara Reservation - New York State Park was established.
In 1891, General Parkhurst Whitney sold the Cataract House Hotel to Peter Porter. From the end of the 20th century and into the 21st century, the ownership of the hotel changed hands between private to corporate owners. Then on October 14th, 1945, a fire broke out which burned down the Cataract House Hotel.
The significance of this hotel extends beyond its size and role in the tourism of Niagara. It also played an important role in the Underground Railroad. Many of the waiters who worked at the hotel were African American, and noted their birthplaces as a southern state or unknown/ unlisted. This suggests that a number of them had escaped slavery. Head waiter John Morrison and his colleagues helped free others who were enslaved. There were many famous successful and failed rescue cases during the 1800s. Thus, the Cataract House also acted as important landmark for Underground Railroad activism.