Goat Island is a small non populated island situated in the northern New York at the South West tip of Niagara County. It is located in the middle of Niagara Falls on the Niagara River, between Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls. Maintained by New York State Parks, Goat Island is the oldest State Park in the United States.
The name Goat Island is derived as in the late 1700’s farmer John Stedman kept a herd of goats on the island, even though all the goats died in the bad winter of 1780. This 13 hectare island was the headquarters for the Sydney Water Police who kept an eye out for smugglers and escaped convicts. Goat Island, west of the Harbour Bridge, was also once the fledgling colony's gunpowder store and the source of the sandstone used in some of Sydney's finest buildings.
The island offers a great view of the Niagara Falls from the US side. With the development of a bridge, one can access the island by either walking or by car. The interior of the island is not inhabitable and is largely populated by woody trees and walking trails. On the eastern side of the island, an elevator has been built which can take one to the bottom of the falls which provides an easy access to the Cave of the Winds.
The island is easily accessible all year around via a motor vehicle bridge or a walking bridge and the best views of the combined falls are at night, especially during the late summer and early autumn. No trip to Niagara Falls is complete without visiting Goat Island. |
