Maid of the Mist

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The James V. Glynn is one of two all-electric Maid of the Mist vessels.
The two all-electric vessels are named after James V. Glynn, Maid of the Mist Chairman, and electric pioneer Nikola Tesla.

The Maid of the Mist is a sightseeing boat tour of Niagara Falls, starting and ending on the American side, crossing briefly into Canada during a portion of the trip. The vessels are named James V. Glynn in honor of Maid of the Mist Chairman and CEO James V. Glynn, who in 2020 celebrated 70 years with the company, and Nikola Tesla, who invented alternating current (AC) motor, the standard form of electricity that is used in American homes to this day. Tesla’s invention prompted George Westinghouse to invite him to join his team that won the bid to build the power plant at Niagara Falls.[1]

History[]

The United States[]

The original Maid of the Mist was built at a landing near Niagara Falls on the American side of the border.[2] The boat was christened in 1846 as a border-crossing ferry;[3] its first trip was on September 18, 1846.[4] The two-stage barge-like steamer was designed primarily as a link for a proposed ferry service between New York City and Toronto. It was a 72-foot-long side-wheeler with an 18-foot beam which was powered by steam produced from a wood- and coal-fired boiler. It could carry up to 100 passengers.[5]

The ferry did well until 1848, when the opening of a suspension bridge between the United States and Canada cut into the ferry traffic. It was then that the owners decided to make the journey a sightseeing trip, plotting a journey closer to the Falls.

The present day Maid of the Mist Corporation was formed in 1884 by Captain R. F. Carter and Frank LaBlond,[6] who invested in a new Maid that would launch in 1885.[7][8] Captain Carter and Mr. LaBlond hired Alfred H. White from Port Robinson, Ontario to build the new ship.[citation needed] A letter in the archives of the Buffalo Historical Society from Mr. LaBlond to Alfred White says that they are well pleased with the vessel and asks Alfred to add a wale onto the boat.[citation needed]

The service is run by Maid of the Mist Corp. of Niagara Falls, New York. Maid of the Mist has been owned by the Glynn family since 1971.[9]

James V. Glynn is chairman and chief executive officer of Maid of the Mist Corp. Glynn joined Maid of the Mist in 1950 as a ticket seller, and purchased the company in 1971. During his tenure, Maid of the Mist expanded operations, achieving ten-fold growth.[citation needed]

Name source[]

The name, Maid of the Mist, could be a reference to the Iroquois myth of Lelawala.[10]

Notable passengers[]

While on his 1860 tour of Canada, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), rode on Maid of the Mist.[11]

In June 1952, Marilyn Monroe rode the Maid of the Mist while in Niagara Falls to film the movie Niagara.[12]

Mikhail Gorbachev was a passenger in 1983.[9]

In 1991, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and their two young sons, Princes William and Harry, rode on Maid of the Mist.[13]

Boats[]

First Maid of the Mist [14]

  • Years of service: 1846–1854
  • Type: double-stack steamboat ferry
  • Engine: one sidewheel steam

Second Maid of the Mist[15]

  • Years of service: 1854–1860
  • Length: 72 feet (22 m)
  • Type: single-stack steamer
  • Engine: paddle boat
Maid of the Mist I, published c. 1901
Stereoscopic view of Maid of the Mist II, c. 1896–1906

Third Maid of the Mist[16]

  • Years of service: 1885–1955
  • Type: steam boat

Fourth Maid of the Mist[17]

  • Years of service: 1892–1955
  • Type: white oak steamboat
  • Length: 89 feet (27 m)
  • Engine: two-engine steam

These boats sailed the lower river until April 22, 1955, when they burned in a pre-season accident. Later that year, they were replaced by two new ships. The type and style of the boats is still seen today; they were made of steel and powered by diesel engines.

Maid of the Mist I[18]

  • Years of service: 1955–1990
  • Length: 66 feet (20 m)
  • Engine: 200-horsepower (150 kW) diesel engines
  • Passengers: 101

Maid of the Mist II[19]

  • Years of service: 1956–1983
  • Type: all-steel boat, twin of I
  • Engine: 200-horsepower (150 kW) diesel engines
  • Passengers: 101
Maid of the Mist boarding dock, 1976
View of Niagara Falls from Maid of the Mist
Maid of Mist IV and Maid of Mist VII

Maid of the Mist III[20]

  • Years of service: 1972–1997
  • Length: 65 feet (20 m)
  • Gross tonnage: 75[21]
  • Engine: single 250-horsepower (190 kW) diesel
  • Passengers: 210

Maid of the Mist IV[22]

  • Years of service: 1976–2013
  • Length: 72 feet (22 m)
  • Gross tonnage: 75[23]
  • Engine: two 250-horsepower (190 kW) diesel
  • Passengers: 300

Maid of the Mist V[24]

  • Years of service: 1983–2013
  • Length: 72 feet (22 m)
  • Gross tonnage: 74[25]
  • Engine: two 355-horsepower (265 kW) diesel
  • Passengers: 300

Maid of the Mist VI[26]

  • Years of service: 1990–2019
  • Length: 74 feet (23 m)
  • Breadth: 30 feet (9.1 m)
  • Depth: 10 feet (3.0 m)
  • Gross tonnage: 155[27]
  • Engine: two 355-horsepower (265 kW) diesel
  • Passengers: 600

Maid of the Mist VII[28]

  • Years of service: 1997–2020
  • Length: 80 feet (24 m)
  • Breadth: 30 feet (9.1 m)
  • Depth: 10 feet (3.0 m)
  • Gross tonnage: 155[29]
  • Engine: two 350-horsepower (260 kW) diesel
  • Passengers: 600

James V. Glynn[30]

  • Years of service: 2020–present
  • Length: 90 feet (27 m)
  • Breadth: 34 feet (10 m)
  • Depth: 6 feet (1.8 m)
  • Propulsion System: Lithium-ion battery packs power the all-electric motor
  • Passengers: 600

Nikola Tesla[31]

  • Years of service: 2020–present
  • Length: 90 feet (27 m)
  • Breadth: 34 feet (10 m)
  • Depth: 6 feet (1.8 m)
  • Propulsion System: Lithium-ion battery packs power the all-electric motor
  • Passengers: 600

Little Maid

  • A small tug-like vessel found at the docks on the American side

References[]

  1. ^ https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/passenger-vessel-world/maritime-tourism/maid-of-the-mist-unveils-names-of-two-newest-boats/
  2. ^ John Brandt Mansfield (1899). History of the Great Lakes ... J.H. Beers & Company. pp. 652–.
  3. ^ Barbara Hopkinson; Lorraine Johnson (1 May 2013). Top 10 Toronto. DK Publishing. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-1-4654-1230-0.
  4. ^ John Disturnell (1857). A trip through the lakes of North America: embracing a full description of the St. Lawrence River, together with all the principal places on its banks, from its source to its mouth ; commerce of the lakes, etc. ; forming altogether a complete guide for the pleasure traveler and emigrant ; with maps and embellishments. Published by J. Disturnell. pp. 213–.
  5. ^ Willard V. Anderson (1954). Ships and the Sea. Kalmbach Publishing Company.
  6. ^ Niagara Parks Commission (Ont.) (1896). Annual Report of the Niagara Parks Commission. Niagara Parks Commission. pp. 137–.
  7. ^ http://www.nemoha.org/2900436/data
  8. ^ Gene Buel; Scott Buel (2012). Marine City. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 118–. ISBN 978-0-7385-9180-3.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Unclear Future for Mainstay of Niagara Mist". The New York Times. 24 May 2012.
  10. ^ Spiteri, Ray. "Myths of Niagara". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  11. ^ Ian Walter Radforth (2004). Royal Spectacle: The 1860 Visit of the Prince of Wales to Canada and the United States. University of Toronto Press. pp. 300–. ISBN 978-0-8020-8665-5.
  12. ^ http://www.torontosun.com/2014/03/05/marilyn-monroes-room-at-the-crowne-plaza
  13. ^ "Famous Visitors". Niagara Parks. Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  14. ^ Edwin C. Guillet (15 December 1933). Early Life in Upper Canada. University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division. pp. 78–. ISBN 978-1-4875-9803-7.
  15. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  16. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  17. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  18. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  19. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  20. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  21. ^ Results for Vessel: Maid of the Mist III, United States Coast Guard Maritime Information eXchange (CGMIX)
  22. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  23. ^ Results for Vessel: Maid of the Mist IV, United States Coast Guard Maritime Information eXchange (CGMIX)
  24. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  25. ^ Results for Vessel: Maid of the Mist V, United States Coast Guard Maritime Information eXchange (CGMIX)
  26. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  27. ^ Results for Vessel: Maid of the Mist VI, United States Coast Guard Maritime Information eXchange (CGMIX)
  28. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/the-maid-experience/maid-history/
  29. ^ Results for Vessel: Maid of the Mist VII, United States Coast Guard Maritime Information eXchange (CGMIX)
  30. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/news/watch-the-launch-of-our-all-electric-vessels/
  31. ^ https://www.maidofthemist.com/news/watch-the-launch-of-our-all-electric-vessels/

External links[]

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