Did You Know Our HQ Sits on the Historic Site of the Underground Railroad’s Cataract House—One of the Most Important Spots in American History?
The Cataract House: Niagara’s Hidden Legacy of Freedom
Just steps from where tourists snap selfies at the edge of Niagara Falls, history whispers through the foundation stones beneath our feet. Long before tour buses lined up and fast-casual chains filled the corners, one building stood as a beacon—not of entertainment, but of liberation.
That building was the Cataract House.
🏨 More Than a Hotel—A Gateway to Freedom
Built in the early 1800s on the American side of the Falls, the Cataract House was once Niagara’s grandest hotel, catering to wealthy travelers from across the country. But behind its elegant facade, a different kind of power was at work.
The hotel employed a predominantly Black waitstaff, many of whom were freedom seekers themselves or born to formerly enslaved parents. Under the quiet leadership of John Morrison, the Cataract House became one of the most active stops on the Underground Railroad.
While guests enjoyed white-linen service upstairs, courageous staff were secretly helping enslaved people escape, rowing them across the Niagara River to freedom in Canada—often in the dead of night, often at great personal risk.
John Morrison (left) and James Patterson (right), leaders of the Underground Railroad and waiters at the historic Cataract House.
Originally painted in watercolor by E.B. Lewis (2017–18), this portrait was later transferred to an 11’ x 9’ glass installation at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, honoring their courage and legacy.
📍 How Close Are You to That History?
Very close.
Today, the Comfort Inn The Pointe, located at 1 Prospect Pointe, stands almost exactly on the original footprint of the Cataract House. The historic hotel once stood at the corner of Prospect Street and Old Main Street, overlooking the rapids—precisely where the Comfort Inn now welcomes its guests.
If you’re visiting Go Niagara Tours and standing outside the Comfort Inn, you are standing where the Cataract House once stood. The river is still there. The view is still there. And the story still matters.
A New York State historical marker stands directly in front of the hotel, reminding us of the building that once stood on this very site—and the freedom it helped create.
“Cataract House” Musical Brings Hidden Niagara Falls History to the Stage
This June at The Empty Space Theater in California, the new musical Cataract House debuts with a powerful dramatization of this little-known and too often overlooked chapter in American history: the story of the Black waitstaff at a Niagara Falls hotel who, in the 1850s, quietly helped enslaved people escape to freedom in Canada.
Playwright Kamala Boeck was inspired after visiting the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. Moved by the story of the hotel’s highly choreographed dining service—and the even more carefully coordinated secret missions of its staff—she set out to bring this hidden history to life. She collaborated with composer Criston Moore and musical director Ayrian Gridiron to create a score rooted in gospel, spirituals, and movement.
Directed by Avery Gibson, the production features a talented local cast and opens with a special Juneteenth gala, celebrating freedom and resilience through art and storytelling.Why It Matters Today
At a time when many tour companies race to upsell boat rides or cram guests into buses, we believe in something more lasting: context, storytelling, and truth. We don’t just show people the Falls—we help them understand what these waters meant to people who were risking everything for a chance to be free.
The Cataract House is a reminder that Niagara Falls has always been a crossroads—not just of tourism, but of courage and human dignity.
Walking in Their Footsteps
When you join one of our tours, you’re not just seeing the sights—you’re walking in the footsteps of history. You’re standing where enslaved people once looked across the river and saw hope on the other side. You’re hearing the stories that built this place—not just its buildings, but its soul.
Want to learn more?
Come walk with us.
Because history isn’t just in museums—it’s alive, right here, on the edge of the Falls.
Hard to Believe—But Our Hotel Sits on the Same Ground as the Historic Cataract House, a Key Stop on the Underground Railroad.