Now look to your left. Watch as the Niagara River rushes with white swirls of foam under the 1,450 foot Rainbow Bridge leading to the United States. From here, the water will thunder north through a gorge for 13.5 miles before emptying into Lake Ontario at the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Impressive, right? The first European to stand where you are was French navigator Samuel de Champlain in 1604. Subsequent missionaries and explorers followed during the 17th century. Ever wonder how Niagara Falls became the destination for honeymooners? This trend began in 1801 after the daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr vacationed at Niagara Falls with her new husband.
