| A Niagara Landmark - The Crowne Plaza Hotel Part 5 | | | | Clifton House. Built in 1833, it was described in a guide |
| Exploring the Area's Heritage The Crowne Plaza and | | | | book, published 11 years later, as a "large, elegant, |
| the neighboring Sheraton on the Falls are ideal places | | | | commodious, well-finished hotel, standing on the brow |
| from which to begin a walking tour of the vicinity. A | | | | of the bank near the ferry, and commanding a |
| great deal of Niagara's fascinating history can be | | | | splendid view of the Falls." During the closing years of |
| discovered in this area. So let's begin. In front of the | | | | American Civil War, Confederate agents stationed in |
| Crowne Plaza is the entrance to the Rainbow Bridge | | | | Canada often held meetings at the Clifton House. |
| which connects Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, | | | | This outstanding hotel was destroyed by fire on June |
| New York. Officially opened on November 1, 1941, it | | | | 26, 1898. A new Clifton House was constructed on |
| has a length of 950 feet. The Province of Ontario | | | | the same site in 1905, and soon gained the identical, |
| and the State of New York jointly own this bridge. | | | | excellent reputation as its predecessor had enjoyed |
| Due to wartime gasoline rationing, very little traffic | | | | for so many years. Ironically, on New Year's Eve |
| used the bridge for the first few years. The Rainbow | | | | 1932, it was also lost in a spectacular fire. Soon after |
| Bridge replaced an earlier span called the Upper Steel | | | | this, the property was purchased by Harry (later, Sir |
| Arch, or Honeymoon Bridge. On January 27, 1938 a | | | | Harry) Oakes. He was a mining magnate who had |
| massive ice jam, 60 feet thick, formed in the gorge | | | | struck it rich in northern Ontario. In 1924, he moved |
| below the bridge, causing the abutments to be | | | | to Niagara Falls. Oakes donated the former Clifton |
| weakened and it collapsed onto the ice below. A | | | | House property to the Niagara Parks Commission in |
| prominent feature of the Rainbow Bridge is the | | | | 1934 in exchange for a piece of land above the |
| Rainbow Carillon Tower. It has 55 bells, ranging in | | | | steep hill at the rear of Queen Victoria Park. Soon |
| weight from 9 pounds to 10 tons. There are regular | | | | after this, the Commission developed the garden |
| concerts throughout the summer and on special | | | | theater you see today. Opened on September 18, |
| holiday occasions during the rest of the year. Turning | | | | 1937, it is a beautiful blend of horticulture and |
| right and walking a short distance south of the hotel | | | | architectural skills. Over the years, many concerts and |
| along Falls Avenue, you will soon see, on the opposite | | | | special events have taken place at the Theatre. |
| side of the street from the hotel and across from | | | | These include a series of live television broadcasts by |
| Casino Niagara and the Sheraton on the Falls, a | | | | the "Regis and Kathy Lee" television program, and |
| beautiful formal garden. It is known as Oakes Garden | | | | concerts by artists including Bob Dylan and Kenny |
| Theatre. During most of the 19th century, this site | | | | Rogers. |
| was the location of Niagara's most famous hotel, the | | | | |