A History of Love: Honeymooners in Niagara Falls
A History of Love: Honeymooners in Niagara Falls
For over two centuries, Niagara Falls has held a special place in the hearts of newlyweds. Long before selfies and social media, couples flocked to the roaring waterfalls, drawn by the promise of adventure, natural beauty, and timeless romance.
The tradition of honeymooning in Niagara Falls dates back to 1819, when Theodosia and Joseph Alston, daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr, were among the first recorded honeymooners. But it wasn’t until 1825, when Jerome Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon) brought his bride Betsy Patterson to the Falls, that the area truly earned its title as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World.”
Frederick Douglass, the famed abolitionist and orator, who journeyed to Niagara Falls with his bride, Helen Pitts Douglass.
One of the most meaningful visits came from Frederick Douglass, the famed abolitionist and orator, who journeyed to Niagara Falls with his bride, Helen Pitts Douglass. Their interracial marriage was considered controversial at the time, but their trip to Niagara was both romantic and symbolic—a personal declaration of love and freedom in a place defined by natural power and beauty. Douglass later wrote about the falls with awe and reverence, capturing their emotional and spiritual weight.
In Superman II Lois, and Clark visit Niagara Falls and stay in a honeymoon suite.
Through the 19th and 20th centuries, the tradition only grew. Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, who famously filmed Niagara in 1953, helped cement the region’s romantic image. Countless presidents, dignitaries, and everyday couples have walked hand in hand along the railings, posed beside the mist, or sealed their vows with a kiss under the thunder of Horseshoe Falls.
In the hit TV series The Office, Jim and Pam famously tied the knot at the Falls during a two-part episode titled “Niagara” (Season 6). The wedding party — including Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, and the rest of the Dunder Mifflin crew — made the trip to witness the couple’s unforgettable ceremony aboard the Maid of the Mist. The episode became one of the show’s most beloved, cementing Niagara Falls as not just a honeymoon destination, but a place of television history and heartfelt moments. They stayed at the famed Red Coach Inn, right near out offices at the Comfort Inn across the street!
Even today, the city welcomes thousands of honeymooners every year — from around the world and every walk of life — all seeking that perfect mix of love, legend, and the unmatched power of nature.
Because at Niagara Falls, it’s not just about seeing the water fall — it’s about falling in love, too.