Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mission via Nikola Tesla's alternating current design. Though the plant was eventually de-
molished, the
Power Arch
was left intact. This three-story-tall stone arch served as the
facade of the plant's main building. It was moved to Goat Island from the southern part of
the city in 1967 to serve as a memorial to Niagara's important industrial heritage. It's loc-
ated about 200 yards away from the Cave of the Winds ticket office.
TESLA STATUE
Although his engineering and discoveries impact our lives to this day, many people look
quizzicallyatthe
statue of Nikola Tesla
onGoatIsland.Teslawasagenius,withmorethan
300 patents to his name, responsible for inventing alternating current, fluorescent lighting,
wireless communication, and remote control devices. The bronze statue, by sculptor Frano
Kršini
ć
, was dedicated in 1976, a gift to the park from the Yugoslavian government. The
statue depicts a contemplative Tesla looking down at notes in his lap. Like Tesla, the statue
is larger than life—about 10 feet tall. Feel free to scale the statue and sit in the lap of the
man who is said to have invented the 20th century.
LUNA ISLAND
Luna Island
isasmallscrapoflandthatseparatesAmericanandBridalVeilFalls.Itoffers
spectacular views of both falls and the gorge, and several spots allow close access to the
beautiful and menacing brink of Niagara.
TakeamomenttostandinthesouthcornerofLunaIsland,immediatelynexttothebrink
of Bridal Veil Falls. The green water flows rhythmically, providing a sense of peace. But
a peek over the brink exposes the thundering, falling water, which reveals the duality of
Niagara, where beauty and force contrast sharply. You'll experience this most intensely on
the U.S. side, where you can get close to the water and don't have to fight the crowds on
the Canadian side.
