Learn how Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to survive Niagara Falls — a daring story you’ll hear on our guided Niagara Falls day tour.

Learn about daredevil Bobby Leach, who went over Niagara Falls in a steel barrel in 1911 and survived. Discover how his dramatic stunt became part of Niagara Falls history and why we share his story during our guided tour experience.

A barrel, a blacksmith’s anvil, and the power of Horseshoe Falls — the 1920 attempt by Charles Stephens remains one of the most dramatic and tragic daredevil stories in Niagara Falls history.

A giant rubber ball, Niagara Falls, and a daring idea that somehow worked. In 1928, Jean Lussier survived the plunge over Horseshoe Falls in one of the most unusual stunts in history.

In 1930, George Stathakis made one of the most unusual daredevil attempts in history: one remembered as much for its outcome as for the unexpected survivor.

In 1951, daredevil William Red Hill Jr. attempted to go over Horseshoe Falls in a flimsy contraption known as “The Thing.” The tragic outcome led to new laws banning stunts at Niagara Falls.

In 1961, William Fitzgerald, using the name Nathan Boya, became the first African-American to go over Horseshoe Falls in a custom-built sphere. His calculated stunt led to the first conviction under the Niagara Parks Act.

The 1984 Niagara Falls attempt by Karel Soucek saw him survive a plunge over Horseshoe Falls in a custom barrel. Months later, a failed stunt ended his life.

Steven Trotter, from Rhode Island, was the youngest person to challenge Niagara Falls, at 22 years old on the morning of August 18, 1985. He used a homemade contraption consisting of two plastic pickle barrels lined inside with foam packing and surrounded outside with large inner tubes covered by a tarp. He survived to stunt with minor bruises.

2 months before he succeeded in an attempt to go over Niagara Falls, David Munday tried on July 28, 1985, but was stopped by the Niagara Parks police. They stopped him in the river above the falls in a hydro power pool and fined him $503. They warned him that another attempt could come with 30 days in jail and $1000 fine.

On Wednesday September 27, 1989 Peter DeBernardi, 42 years old, from Niagara Falls, Ontario and Jeffrey Petkovich, 24 years old, from Ottawa, became the first to go over Niagara Falls together in the same barrel.

On June 5, 1990 Jesse Sharp attempted to ride his polyurthane kayak over Niagara Falls. The 28 year old from Ocoee, Tennessee wasn't experienced whitewater kayaker. His 3. 6 m (12 ft), 16 kg (36 lb) kayak was named “Rapidman”.

Shortly after noon on October 1, 1995, Robert Overacker challenged Niagara Falls on a jet ski. The 39 year old from Camarillo, California went over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. He carried a parachute strapped to his back. At the brink, he attempted to discharge the rocket propelled device, but it didn't work.

On October 20th 2003, Kirk Raymond Jones became the first human in recorded history to intentionally go over the Horseshoe Falls wearing just his clothes and survive. Remarkably, he did this without any protective device or life jacket.

On March 11, 2009, a Canadian in his mid-thirties went over the guardrail and waded into the freezing cold Niagara River. He was swept over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The force of the current tore his clothes off. He was spotted naked below Niagara Falls, in the dangerous churning river water.

It was a sunny afternoon on July 9th, 1960 when what became known as the "Miracle of Niagara" took place. 40 year old Jim Honeycutt from Michigan invited his coworkers two children to go with him for a boat ride.

Jean Francois Gravelet, better known as the "Great Blondin" was born on 28 February 1824 at St Omer, Pas­de­Calais, France.

The only woman to cross the Niagara River gorge on tightrope Maria Spelterina.

More recently, 33 year old Nik Wallenda did the tightrope walk across the Niagara River Gorge on June 15th, 2012. He crossed at the widest part of the river, close to the Horseshoe Falls, from Goat Island in the US to the Canadian side. This is the closest any tightrope walker has gotten to Niagara Falls.

In 1883, Matthew Webb, the first man to swim the English Channel, attempted to swim the dangerous Whirlpool Rapids of the Niagara River at Niagara Falls, creating one of the most unique and tragic stories in Niagara Falls history.

On August 22, 1886, William J. Kendall, a policeman from Boston Mass. Became the first person to swim the Whirlpool Rapids and live. He wore only his swimming trunks and a cork life preserver. He suffered only minor cuts and bruises, but generally was unharmed.