The Iron Scow – A Piece of Niagara Falls History
On August 6, 1918, a dumping scow broke loose from its towing tug about 1.6 km upriver with two men aboard. A unique artifact of Niagara Falls history, the wreckage remains lodged in the upper Niagara River, over 100 years later.
- Year-round
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Features


Going Over? Severe Weather Moves the Scow 101 Years Later
Severe weather conditions on October 31, 2019 caused the scow to shift significantly from the spot it remained in for over 100 years. Remarkably, high winds forced the scow to turn its position and shift further toward the brink of the falls. The news of the scow’s momentous move made national and international headlines with media and public interest continuing days after. While still lodged in the powerful rapids of the upper Niagara River, the future of the legendary scow remains uncertain.
Following the scow’s sudden shift, Niagara Parks is using geographic information system (GIS) mapping to evaluate exactly how much it moved from its previous location and monitor any further movement.