First Cable Car Crossing Niagara Falls

This iconic photo from history shows the first crossing of the Whirlpool Cable Car going over the Niagara Falls gorge, on August 8th, 1916. This attraction is still open, however it is now called the Whirlpool Aero Car. This equipment was designed by Leonardo Torres Quevedo, a Spanish engineer, and has been in operation since 1916.

The cable car is made up of six sturdy cables and offers a wonderful view of the Niagara Whirlpool which is formed at the end of the rapids where the gorge turns abruptly counterclockwise, and the river escapes through the narrowest channel in the gorge. It has 14 pulleys going back and forth above the cables that allows the wagon or the cargo carrier to move easier and make it light enough.

Below are a few highlights about the Whirlpool Aero Car:

• The Whirlpool Aero Car opened on August 8, 1916. Upgrades in design and function occurred in 1961, 1967 and 1984.
• The aerial cable car travels safely between two different points of the Canadian shore of the Niagara River over the spectacular Whirlpool.
• A round trip is about one kilometer (3,600 feet) and takes about 10 minutes to navigate, carrying its capacity of 35 standing passengers.