1901 Map of Niagara Falls

About this map

The international border between the United States and Canada follows the deep channel of the Niagara River, where turn-of-the-century engineering and military history meet. On the American side, the industrial and transport hub of Niagara Falls is dense with rail lines, including the Erie R. R. and the Central And Hudson River R. R. crossing at Suspension Bridge. The map captures the river's descent through the Whirlpool toward Lake Ontario, anchored by strategic defensive sites like Fort Niagara and Fort Massassauga at the river's mouth. Interior land patterns show a transition from the urban density of the falls to the agricultural townships of Porter and Lewiston. Detailed island topographies, such as Goat Id. and the expansive Grand Island, illustrate how the river's split shaped the local geography and the placement of the international Boundary Line.