Niagara Power Project

This is a very cool afternoon stop when you are looking for something free to do.
The size of the place is mind expanding. It is amazing how those guys worked three shifts all year round to get the project done in three years. The view of the gorge is tremendous.
The best part is the scale model that explains how the whole system works. The on hands gadgets are cool too.

In 2014, a study of Thomas Hart Benton’s ‘Father Hennepin at Niagara Falls’ sold at a Christie’s auction for $ 785,000. Well, the original 1961 painting is here hanging high overhead as you enter. You can’t get a closer look at this large work of a major mid-​20^th century artist because this ain’t an art museum and there are no stern guards standing about so bring your binoculars.
It looks like few dollars were spent after 1961 to maintain many of the exhibits that explain how energy is generated and distributed. Some are in complete disrepair and some don’t work at all: this in a place that is all about power. That’s oxymoronically disingenuous.
Is that a reason not to go? Oh, no, certainly not. Children will still find exhibits to engage them — even the broken ones — and adults will appreciate the spectacular views from the expansive observation platform. There is a truly overwhelming sea of parking spaces yet very few visitors. Admission is free. Why wouldn’t you go?

I really enjoyed this museum, which is what I’d consider a «hidden gem» in the Niagara Falls area. Part of our goal this day was a bike ride from Goat Island up to this place and back. It’s pretty accessible from the bike path, requiring a little detour over a pedestrian bridge and then up a side road. There’s a bike rack out front, although it’s kind of hidden.
This place is pretty enormous, and I expected to see more people here, especially considering how busy the rest of Niagara Falls was, but I suppose since it’s a few miles north of the downtown, it’s a little bit off the beaten path.
It is free admission wise, and that is pretty great. There’s a receiving area, and then a pedestrian walkway over the parkway to the museum itself with some temporary exhibits. I would love to know who the architect was for the building, it’s a great mid-​century modern building, and has beautiful clean lines.
So the top level is mostly interactive exhibits about electricity, covering how it works and other stuff that kids will enjoy doing. One of my favorite pieces is a large diorama of the Niagara Falls region, with a narration that lights up the map, showing where the intakes are, where the water goes (in a GIGANTIC pipe under the city) and how the generation works depending on the load.
The next level down there’s a well done mural on the European discovery of the falls, and a very nice exhibition on the Tuscarora, covering the very controversial Supreme Court case of Federal Power Commission vs Tuscarora Nation.
After that, there’s a nifty little display where you can get an «e-​postcard» of yourself standing in front a greenscreen backdrop, with your own choice of postcard. It sends you an email with the postcard. I have to admit, we were kind of goofy with the postcard. Sometimes the kiosk isn’t working very well, though.
Also, something we appreciated is there’s a really nice indoor and outdoor picnic area. I kind of wish I’d known about this in advance, we would have packed a lunch — so future people, you’re welcome. There’s also a few vending machines.
Anyhow, if you’re looking for something «different» when you’re in the Niagara Falls area, give this museum a try. It’s free!

It was closed. I really wanted to show my boys the power plant and how it worked. Bummer.

In the past many of us have used the access road and metal stairs to get to the good fishing that can be found on the main Niagara river. I’m not talking about the fishing pier. But for the past few years there has been this ceaseless construction on the access road thus preventing access to the river. Its obvious this work is taking way too long for such a limited area of construction. NYPA officials have often shown indifference when asked about this problem. And answers to inquiries are often inaccurate. There’s evidence of poor planning as a cause of dragging on the construction. Some of this work is a «do over» of earlier work that also tied up access at that time. Why couldn’t they have gotten it right in the first place? There is a great need to get this job done and soon!

Hydro Projects are amazing and greening our state. I visited the power vista which offered amazing views and had an interactive exhibit on green energy. I was highly impressed.
Some of the most amazing views to be captured are from the Vista’s deck. Most importantly Vista admission is free

New York Power Authority (management)
Niagara Power Vista (location)
5777 Lewiston Road
Lewiston, NY 14 092‑2199
(716) 286 — 6661
1 (866) 697 — 2386
Often over looked, the Niagara Power Project has a Visitors Center is called The Power Vista is located in Lewiston, perched atop the hydro project’s main power plant. Located 4 ½ miles downstream from the Falls, set amidst the spectacular scenery of the Niagara River Gorge.
Admission and parking are always free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, year-​round.
Guided tours need to be scheduled in advance, are tailored to the age of the audience. For the youngest visitors (up to grade 3) the focus is on electrical safety. For grades 4 – 6, they introduce experimentation and discussion on protons, neutrons and electrons. For grades seven through adult they add more safety information and energy conservation.
Self guided tours anytime. Learn about how water enters the project, drops through the penstocks and spins huge turbines generating electricity. A lot of interactive exhibits for a better understanding of how electricity is produced and transmitted. learn about the role hydropower has played in history and alternative power sources — solar power, wind power and fuel cells.
Tours of the interior operations of the Robert Moses Power Plant and Lewiston Pump Generating Plant are not available for security and safety reasons. However you can See and hear the functions of huge gantry cranes and weather permitting, the presentation can also include an outdoor visit to the forebay area and a spare turbine.
Once you’ve seen their diorama inside you can experience the real thing. Spectacular views 350 feet above the Niagara River in the comfortable environment of a glass enclosed walkway or on the outdoor observation deck.
Very enjoyable and memorable. Don’t wait for a school field trip, take the family. You’ll be glad you did.