Late in the summer of 2001 the Power Authority of the State of New York re-opened their Power Vista in the Town of Lewiston at the site of the Niagara Power Project. This is a secondary tourist attraction of Niagara County which underwent about $2.3-million in renovations and is designed to show how electric power is generated at Niagara Falls. Admission is free.
As with many public exhibits of the past decades, the exhibit's science and technology integrity has been somewhat compromised so as to provide greater appeal to children. Probably the best feature of a visit to the Power Vista is an outstanding outside or inside view of the lower Niagara River gorge. From the observation areas one can view the water release areas for both the Canadian and US power generating stations and on a clear day look all the way north along the gorge route to Lake Ontario. Recreational boat traffic and fishermen on the Niagara River below makes for an interesting study from the observation areas.
"Educational"
Exhibits
Inside the Power Vista building are numerous educational exhibits attempting to show how electricity is used, transmitted, and produced. Many are hands-on and a delight to children.
However, in an attempt to create an inter-active exhibit, the designers have compromised the accuracy of some of their narratives on electricity. Parents who know about electric technology and take their children can score points and have a little fun by pointing out some of the liberties with science facts the exhibit designers have taken.
And please be aware that several of the exhibits are not really doing what they purport to do. There's millions of dollars in public monies invested here but unfortunately the designers still didn't get everything right. Many of the exhibits are simply promotional devices for the Power Authority and electric power---after all, admission is free and the Authority is interested in promoting itself as it attempts to gain renewal of its federal license to generate power here. For the price, you really can't go wrong providing you don't take everything represented here as fact. The best way to get facts on such items is still from published reference books.
A $5-Million Historic Mural
The Power Authority of the State of New York has a lot of money. One of the projects they undertook with some of that cash was to commission in 1961 the historic mural by artist Thomas Hart showing Father Louis Hennepin, one of the first Europeans ever to see Niagara Falls. While blessing the Mighty Niagara an attempt was made to befriend the local Indians.
The 20-foot-wide mural has been recently restored and is on public display in the Power Vista exhibit building at 5777 Lewiston Road (US Route 104).
How To Get There
The Niagara Power Vista is about a 25 minute trip from Lockport center-city. Take Route 31 West out of Lockport into the Town of Niagara and the border with the City of Niagara Falls. Turn right (north) onto Hyde Park Blvd and proceed about a mile to US Route 104. Go north on Route 104 just past Niagara University. The Power Vista is on the northwest border with the University. Look for the signs. Plenty of free parking is available on site.
From Buffalo and points south: Take I-190 north across Grand Island " almost" to the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge but as you pass over the Power Reservoir look for signs to turn west to the Power Vista.
From Canada: Enter the USA from the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. Travel south on Route 104 and exit to the Power Vista just before you reach the campus of Niagara University.
For telephone information call (716) 285-3211.
Scale Model of The Niagara Power Project & Niagara Falls
The Power Authority spent a lot of money to have a scale model of the Power Project and the Niagara Falls area built. The model shows where power in collected from the Niagara River above Niagara Falls, brought by tunnel to the project area at Lewiston, held in a reservoir, and released through hydroelectric generators. A small portion of this massive model which extends over much of an exhibit hall, is shown in the picture below. There are some mistakes including one which we have attempted to correct: The PASNY designer didn't know the name of the extensive campus of buildings next to the power project and incorrectly identified them as the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant. It is actually the campus of Niagara University (from which the Power Authority force-purchased most of its land for the project).
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