(Niagara Falls excursion Steamer, launched 1892)

  • Final Location: Niagara River, Niagara Falls, ON
  • Loss Date: April 22, 1955
  • Cause: Destroyed by fire at Canadian-side docks
  • Casualties: None reported

Vessel History & Role

The 1892 Maid‑of‑the‑Mist was one of two large wooden steamers operated by the Maid of the Mist Co. It featured paddle-wheels and offered sightseeing excursions into the Niagara Gorge. It, along with its sisterboat of similar design, formed the core of the fleet from 1885–1955 (Wikipedia, niagarafallsinfo.com).

Final Fire – April 22, 1955

Significance & Legacy

  • The loss marked the end of an era: the last wooden steam-powered Maid‑of‑the‑Mist boats were destroyed, prompting a fleet renewal and modernization effort.
  • The fire remains a pivotal moment in Niagara tourism history—symbolizing the transition to modern vessels while preserving the legacy of steam-era sight-seeing.

Visual & Archival Evidence

  • Contemporary images show the fire-ravaged hulls at the Canadian dock, now preserved in the Niagara Falls Public Library archive (nfpl.historicniagara.ca).
  • Local historian sites and heritage museum articles reaffirm the date, cause, and loss without casualties (niagarafrontier.com).

Summary

  • Name: Maid‑of‑the‑Mist #2
  • Built: 1892 (wood-steam paddle)
  • Service years: 1892–1955
  • Destroyed: April 22, 1955, by dockside fire—no casualties
  • Aftermath: Entire wooden fleet retired; steel, diesel ferries introduced later that year