Lower Landing Archeological District - Lewiston, NY - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

For early travelers coming up the Niagara River on their way from Lake Ontario to the other Great Lakes, this area marked the beginning of the Niagara Portage, the shortest and most accessible route around Niagara Falls and the swirling waters of the Niagara Gorge. Created by natives long before the arrival of the Europeans, the portage was adapted for use by the French, British, and American traders, soldiers, merchants, and travelers from the 17th century until the opening of the Erie and Welland Canals in the 1820s.

Located at the base of the Niagara Escarpment is a ravine known as "The Gulley". It provided a naturally sheltered docking area where the Niagara River flows out of the steep and unnavigable Niagara Gorge. From this docking area, the Gulley allowed access to the lower tiers of the escarpment. The docking area, the steep pathway up from the Gulley, and the land atop the Gulley formed the northern terminous of the Niagara Portage, a 9-mile route along the eastern side of the Gorge that bypassed Niagara Falls.

Archaic Indians inhabited the atea near the portage, as evidenced by cultural remains and the burial mound nearby. The Gulley landing was known to white men as early as 1626 when Father La Roche Daillon visited the frontier, and La Salle passed through on his journeys of exploration.

While trading between Indian tribes probably was carried on at the Portage area, the French are the first people known to have established a concession here. In 1720 Chabert Joncaire built a trading post on the level ground at the top of the ravine, known as the lower plateau. Other than the trading post, the French built no other permanent structures in the area.

The British took control of the area in 1759, during which time they operated a blockhouse and had a small settlement. A tramway, which is no longer evident, was used by the British to transport goods from the river to the top of the escarpment.

Archeological exploration has provided a great deal of evidence that this was indeed a popular and vital spot. Travelers, traders, the military, and missionaries, Indians, and white men all climbed up and down the ravine at Lewiston to carry on their business here or beyond. Currently, nearly the entire area is occupied by Artpark State Park, likely ensuring no artifacts buried deep in the ground will ever be disturbed by future development.

The site is also listed as a National Historic Landmark. Great care should be taken to ensure that whatever artifacts and history at and around the site is not disturbed by visitors. Please be conscious of this fact while visiting this waymark. In addition since it is located within Artpark State Park, an admission fee may be required during certain parts of the year to access the area.

Street address: Artpark State Park Lewiston, NY United States 14092 County / Borough / Parish: Niagara Year listed: 1974 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Information Potential Periods of significance: 499-0 AD, 1000-500 AD, 1499-1000 AD, 1749-1500 AD, 1500-1599, 1600-1649, 1650-1699, 1700-1749, 1750-1799 Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Defense, Domestic: Military Facility, Trade (Archeology), Village Site Current function: Landscape, Recreation And Culture: Museum, Outdoor Recreation Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2008 To: 12/31/2008 Hours of operation: From: 6:00 AM To: 9:00 PM Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Privately owned?: Not Listed Secondary Website 1: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.

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