This week marks a significant milestone for the Niagara Falls Illumination Board as it celebrates a century of lighting up one of the world's most breathtaking natural wonders. For the past 100 years, visitors to Niagara Falls have been able to experience the majestic falls even after sunset all thanks to this binational organization.
The Niagara Falls Illumination Board, which includes representatives from the Niagara Parks Commission, the City of Niagara Falls in Ontario, the City of Niagara Falls in New York, Ontario Power Generation Inc., the New York Power Authority, and the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation, has played a crucial role in creating a stunning nighttime display that honors global events, causes, charities, holidays, and cultural milestones.
The history of illuminating the falls dates back to 1860 when 200 Bengel lights were installed to honor a visit from the Prince of Wales. These early lights used chemical compounds to create a blue flare, setting the stage for future lighting innovations. The first electric lights illuminated the falls in 1879, coinciding with the visit of Princess Louise and her husband, the Marquess of Lorne, who was the Governor General of Canada.
The Illumination Board was officially formed on February 24th, 1925, after a group of local businessmen advocated for an upgrade to the lighting system. Since then, the board has been solely responsible for financing, operating, and maintaining the nightly illuminations. A significant milestone occurred in 2004 when the falls were lit in special colors for the first time to support a charitable cause - pink lights requested by Estée Lauder for its global event to fight breast cancer.
Over the years, the falls have been illuminated for various significant events, including:
March 29, 2008: The falls went dark from 8 to 9pm for the inaugural Earth Hour.
April 2016: The falls were lit purple to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday, coinciding with the passing of music icon Prince.
December 2016: A new $4 million LED lighting grid was introduced providing twice the brightness, a wider range of colors, and reduced energy consumption.
September 2022: Bright orange lights were used to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.
December 2024: The American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls were lit red, white, and blue in honor of former President Jimmy Carter.
Throughout the course of each year, there are special illuminations nearly each night for different occasions, causes, events or celebrations. Holidays such as Valentine's Day, the 4th of July, Christmas, and etc. all have special illuminations.
The centennial nighttime illumination celebration kicked off on February 24th and will continue throughout the year, culminating in a special weekend celebration between September 12th and 14th. The board is planning a series of events to commemorate this historic occasion, inviting both locals and visitors to join in the festivities.
Niagara Falls Illumination Board Celebrates 100 Years of Nighttime Spectacles