Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Maid of the Mist
- Type: Wooden sightseeing steamboats
- Year Built: 1885–1892
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Canadian Maid dock, Niagara River below Horseshoe Falls
- Official Number: Not applicable (multiple vessels, company-owned)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled steamboat ferries for Niagara Falls sightseeing.
Description
The Maid of the Mist consisted of two wooden sightseeing steamboats, one launched in 1885 and the other in 1892. These vessels were designed to provide tourists with a close-up view of the iconic Niagara Falls.
History
The Maid of the Mist boats were built between 1885 and 1892, serving as popular ferries for sightseeing at Niagara Falls. They were part of a fleet that offered unique experiences to visitors, allowing them to navigate the waters near the falls.
Significant Incidents
- Date: 22 April 1955
- Cause: A spark from a welder’s torch ignited the wooden hulls, rapidly destroying both the 1885 and 1892 sister ships.
Final Disposition
The vessels were gutted beyond repair and subsequently scrapped for timber. Souvenirs known as ‘wooden nickels’ were later made from the salvaged wood.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. The boats were dismantled immediately after the fire; no remains exist in the water or riverbed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”maid-of-the-mist” title=”References & Links”]
The wooden Maid of the Mist boats were destroyed by fire on 22 April 1955 due to a welding spark. Their loss led to a complete modernization of the fleet, with all subsequent vessels constructed from steel.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Maid of the Mist (wooden sightseeing steamboats)
- Built: 1885–1892 (two early steamers: one launched 1885, sister in 1892) (maidofthemist.com)
- Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled steamboat ferries for Niagara Falls sightseeing
- Official Numbers: Not applicable (multiple vessels, company-owned)
Final Incident & Loss
- Date: 22 April 1955
- Location: Canadian Maid dock, Niagara River below Horseshoe Falls (en.wikipedia.org, maidofthemist.com)
- Cause: Spark from welder’s torch ignited wooden hulls, rapidly destroying two boats (the 1885 and 1892 sister ships) (maidofthemist.com)
Final Disposition
The vessels were gutted beyond repair and scrapped for timber. Painted “wooden nickels” were later made from salvaged wood as tourist souvenirs (maidofthemist.com).
Located By & Date Found
Nil return. The boats were dismantled immediately after the fire; no remains exist in the water or riverbed.
Notations & Advisories
No navigational markers or hazard warnings persist at the dock site. The event prompted modernization of the fleet and stricter safety protocols.
Resources & Links
- Maid of the Mist company history confirms fire details (niagarafallsinfo.com, maidofthemist.com)
- Niagara Falls Public Library photo of burned hulls (22 Apr 1955) (nfpl.historicniagara.ca)
Conclusion
Wooden Maid of the Mist boats (1885, 1892) were destroyed by fire at the dock on 22 April 1955 due to a welding spark. Their hulls were repurposed into souvenirs, and their loss led to a complete fleet modernization. All surviving vessels after were built in steel.
- Welding safety records or dock fire reports
- Early vessel specs from the late‑1800s (length, passenger capacity, engine details)
- Photographic documentation or behind-the-scenes stories about recovery and rebuild!