Mid-Michigan Monthly
OCTOBER 2025
THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
Annie Edson Taylor
Annie Edson Taylor — The Bay City Teacher Who Conquered Niagara Falls
October 24th, 1901
On October 24, 1901, a 63-year-old schoolteacher from Bay City, Michigan made history — and nearly lost her life doing it.
Her name was Annie Edson Taylor, and on her birthday, she became the first person ever to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive.
Before her daring plunge, Annie had lived a quiet, respectable life as a teacher and dance instructor in Bay City and Sault Ste. Marie. But after a series of financial hardships and setbacks, she made a decision that would shock the world. Seeking to secure her future and claim a spot in history, she designed a custom oak-and-iron barrel, padded it with a mattress, and climbed inside.
At 4:00 p.m. that fall afternoon, Annie was set adrift above the Horseshoe Falls. Minutes later, she plunged over the edge — a 160-foot drop into roaring water. When rescuers found the barrel and pried it open, she emerged alive, shaken but nearly uninjured. Her only words:
“If it was with my dying breath, I would caution anyone against attempting the feat.”
Annie hoped her stunt would bring fame and financial stability, but the fortune never came. She spent her later years posing for photos with tourists at Niagara Falls and died penniless in 1921. Yet her courage and grit endure — a testament to the boldness of a Michigan woman who refused to accept ordinary.
From Bay City to Niagara Falls, Annie Edson Taylor’s story remains one of determination, daring, and the unshakable spirit that has long defined Michigan.
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Thanks for reading the October issue. If something here made your month a little better, share it with a friend and send us your story ideas. We love featuring neighbors doing great things.
The Mid-Michigan Monthly Team