Examines the history and ongoing struggle for scenic preservation of Niagara Falls. By the mid-1800s, the beauty of one of the world's greatest natural wonders had been decimated by years of unbridled commercialism. The efforts of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and the "Free Niagara Movement" of the 1870s and '80s eventually led to the creation of the Niagara Reservation, America's first state park. Today, the situation has come full circle. Threats to the natural environment continue with the introduction of casino gambling in Canada and, on the American side, plans to develop the lower gorge for tourism.
Produced by Rogert Borgatti and Paul Lamont
1996, color, 60 mins.
Purchase: $79.95