Why is Niagara Falls called the honeymoon capital of the world?
The cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York, both share these wondrous waterfalls. Similarly, both the USA and Canada share this famous slogan.
Let’s discover the real honeymoon history and real-life romances that span two centuries, just as the spectacular cataracts span two cities and two countries.
Ready? Put on your rose-colored glasses, and let’s go!
Honeymoon Capital of the World, Niagara Falls (Video)
As archaeologists and historians by education and training, Paul and I (Marilee) seek the WHY in travel and in life.
While on a springtime romantic getaway to Niagara Falls, we wished to learn WHY Niagara Falls holds this historic title. Since I’d specialized in wedding planning once upon a time, I was obviously intrigued.
So we dove into the places, people, and stories to uncover the authentic honeymoon history behind the catchy tagline. We even stayed at the historic fallsview hotel featured in an iconic 20th-century tale.
Who knew? Now we do. Watch the video above. Read the article below. And then you’ll know, too.
Special Note: Many fascinating facts come courtesy of Mr. Sherman Zavitz, the eminent author, teacher, and retired official historian of Niagara Parks and the City of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Whenever you come across his books, articles, lectures, or tours, we recommend taking advantage. His knowledge of Niagara Falls’ history is vast and very enjoyable.
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Honeymoon Capital of the World: Niagara Falls First Honeymooners
Over 220 years ago, two high-society and ultra-glamorous celebrity couples were the original honeymooners to Niagara Falls.
Back then, however, the word “honeymoon” wasn’t quite in vogue. Instead, the term for post-wedding travel was either “wedding trip” or “bridal tour.”
Their fabled wedding trips, coupled with private letters, personal diaries, and, above all, newspapers of the day, made honeymoon history at the turn of the 18th century.
These four adventurous bridal tourists, in essence, launched the honeymoon trend that eventually established the Niagara Falls honeymoon tradition.
Theodosia Burr Alston and Joseph Alston
Firstly, on February 2nd, 1801, Miss Theodosia Burr, the brilliant daughter of the third Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr, married Mr. Joseph Alston, a future Governor of South Carolina.
After their wedding in Albany, the New York State capital, the newlyweds embarked on a months-long bridal tour across New York and Canada.
Arriving at the Niagara Frontier in July 1801, Theodosia Burr Alston and Joseph Alston were the first couple recorded to visit Niagara Falls.
Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte and Jerome Bonaparte
Secondly, on December 24th, 1803, Miss Elizabeth Patterson, the beautiful belle of Baltimore, married Monsieur Jérôme Bonaparte, a French naval officer.
Furthermore, Jerome Bonaparte was the youngest brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, soon to be crowned Emperor of France and King of Italy.
Following their Christmas Eve nuptials in Baltimore, Maryland, Monsieur et Madame Bonaparte left on a lavish honeymoon. Or as the French say, la lune de miel (the moon of honey), suggesting the sweet first months of marriage.
The dazzling Elizabeth and her dashing Jerome were the toast of the town in Washington, DC, the American capital, and other cities. They then visited Niagara Falls in the summer of 1804.
Special Note: In addition to headline-making honeymoon history and trend-setting honeymoon tradition, both Theodosia Burr Alston and Betsy Patterson Bonaparte have remarkable life stories.
Theodosia also has her own hit song, “Dear Theodosia,” in the smash Broadway musical Hamilton.
See the Sources and Resources section for biographies of Theodosia and Elizabeth, as well as further Niagara Falls references.
Honeymoon Capital of the World: Niagara Falls 19th Century Boom
In the early 19th century, traveling through the wilderness to explore the natural wonders of Niagara Falls, Niagara Gorge, and Niagara River must have been an extraordinary and eye-opening experience.
In that bygone era, bridal tours and other trips to Niagara Falls required slow travel to remote areas over rough terrain.
However, the Alstons’ and the Bonapartes’ influence and affluence would have made the journey as comfortable and luxurious as possible in the early 1800s.
Then, the legendary Erie Canal, which transformed and connected the world, broke ground in 1817 and opened in 1825.
Over time, due to the Erie Canal and, thereafter, railroads, Niagara Falls became increasingly accessible to honeymooners and tourists alike.
Other Famous Couples to Niagara Falls
Newsworthy married couples and engaged couples visited Niagara Falls during the 19th century; for instance:
- Charles Dickens and Catherine Thomson Dickens during their North American tour in 1842.
- Mark Twain, otherwise known as Samuel Clemens, his fiancée Olivia Langdon, and his future father-in-law Jervis Langdon, in 1869.
- Frederick Douglass and Helen Pitts Douglas on their bridal tour in 1884.
Charles Dickens, in particular, wrote of his awe-inspiring impressions and long-lasting memories of Niagara Falls:
“I think in every quiet season now, still do those waters roll and leap, and roar and tumble, all day long; still are the rainbows spanning them, a hundred feet below. Still, when the sun is on them, do they shine and glow like molten gold.” (Charles Dickens, American Notes)
As a result of travel developments and evocative descriptions, Niagara Falls became an attainable destination. And indeed the fashionable honeymoon destination and honeymoon capital of the world.
Honeymoon Capital of the World: Niagara Falls 20th Century Amour
During the 20th century, transportation advancements made air travel and road trips to Niagara Falls increasingly easier and affordable.
So modern honeymoons, as well as modern-day tourism overall, flourished in 20th-century Niagara Falls.
On June 29, 1949, the local Chamber of Commerce in Niagara Falls, Canada, debuted a delightful honeymoon tradition: the Honeymoon Certificate.
“Mr. and Mrs. Niagara Honeymoon” received inaugural Honeymoon Certificates at a special presentation ceremony at Table Rock House.
Event plans for the just-married couples included Carillon Bells pealing and horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping along the Honeymoon Trail.
Soon afterwards, a massive tourism boom followed the 1953 blockbuster movie Niagara in theaters. And an equally blockbuster romance in reality.
Marilyn Monroe and Niagara
Filmed on location in Canada, Niagara starred Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten as the femme fatale and bitter husband on vacation. Jean Peters and Casey Adams played the innocent Niagara Falls honeymoon couple.
“Niagara and Marilyn Monroe, the two most electrifying sights in the world!” (Niagara trailer)
Niagara showcases these natural wonders in Technicolor rather than traditional black-and-white film noir. Audiences surely marveled at the mystery and majesty unfolding in full color!
While filming in 1952, Marilyn Monroe stayed at the elite and elegant General Brock Hotel, which first opened in 1929.
In 2025, the grand hotel, formerly the Crowne Plaza Fallsview for many years, renovated and re-opened under Hilton. At this time, it’s re-named the Brock Niagara Falls-Fallsview, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio
Marilyn Monroe’s real-life love affair with baseball legend Joe DiMaggio not only helped fuel the smashingly successful film. But also boosted tourism to the honeymoon capital of the world.
Local lore tell us that Marilyn would slip across the Rainbow Bridge to rendezvous with Joltin’ Joe at the Hotel Niagara in Niagara Falls, New York.
Opened in 1925 and closed in 2004, the old Hotel Niagara is on the National Register of Historic Places. The abandoned but still impressive Niagara hotel presently awaits restoration.
The discreet couple was occasionally seen dining off the beaten path near Lewiston, New York.
The ravishing scenery and riveting stories made Marilyn Monroe a top-billed bona fide movie star. Not to mention, a bona fide icon in her lifetime and beyond.
Honeymoon Capital of the World: Niagara Falls 21st Century Romance
Niagara Falls’ natural beauty, thundering glory, and vibrant rainbows have captivated explorers, travelers, and lovers throughout the ages.
So it’s quite easy to understand how Niagara Falls became the honeymoon capital of the world.
“That was then, but what about now?” you may wonder. “Is Niagara Falls still a honeymoon destination?”
Well, in truth, recent decades have seen honeymoon travel trends toward bucket-list trips such as cruise ships, uxury resorts, exotic safaris, and international capitals.
(For our honeymoon, we chose to visit Greece and the Greek Islands, where we’d met on an archaeological dig.)
These days, Niagara Falls is arguably most popular for fun day trips and family vacations, especially in the summer months, i.e., the peak season. Festivals, shows, and casinos also draw crowds.
Yet Niagara’s heart still beats for couples celebrating proposals, weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries, or romantic weekend getaways.
When schools are in session, there are fewer visitors. Not surprisingly, Niagara Falls offers a more relaxed pace and romantic vibe. Plus, less competition for beautiful Niagara Falls photo spots.
For a magical and memorable time together, couples may find spring, fall or winter to be the best time to visit Niagara Falls.
Speaking of Niagara Falls in winter, both the American side and the Canadian side celebrate love in a big way on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Awash in red and pink illumination, the falls at night look enchanting.
And yes, 75 years and counting since the first commemorative certificates in 1949, couples can still receive free Honeymoon Certificates and Wedding Anniversary Certificates at Table Rock Welcome Centre in Niagara Falls, Canada, and Niagara Falls USA Visitor Center in Niagara Falls, New York.
So, who knew why Niagara Falls is called the honeymoon capital of the world? Now you do!
Historic Niagara Falls Map
Sources and Resources
American Falls from Below at Sunset, Niagara Falls, N.Y. [Between 1908 and 1928] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress July 5, 2025.
Berkin, Carol. Wondrous Beauty: Betsy Bonaparte, the Belle of Baltimore Who Married Napoleon’s Brother. Knopf Vintage Books, 2014.
Cherro Quiñones, Karen. Theodosia Burr: Teen Eyewitness to the Founding of the New Nation. Lerner Publications, 2020. (Note: written for youth ages 11 to 18.
Cote, Richard N. Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy. Corinthian Books, 2002.
Deutsch, Alexandra. A Woman of Two Worlds: Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte. The Maryland Center for History and Culture, 2016.
Dickens, Charles. American Notes for General Circulation. Penguin Classics, 2001.
Didier, Eugène Lemoine. The Life and Letters of Madame Bonaparte. Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington; London, 1879. Unabridged reprint edition, Hansebooks, 2017.
Dunlap, Jr. Orrin E. “Niagara and Its Newlyweds: The Falls Have Changed, but Honeymooners Still Carry Their Smiles and Cameras,” New York Times, February 15, 1931. Accessed June 28, 2025.
“Honeymoon, N.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, March 2025. Accessed July 5, 2025.
“Honeymooners to be Honored All Along Honeymoon Trail,” Niagara Falls Review, June 11, 1949. Accessed July 3, 2025.
Hutton, Richard. “Niagara Falls’ Two Weeks with Marilyn,” Niagara This Week, July 23, 2012.
Niagara. Directed by Henry Hathaway, starring Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotton, et al., Twentieth Century Fox, 1953.
Wellge, H, J. J Stoner, and Beck & Pauli. Niagara-Falls, N.Y. [Madison, Wis., J. J. Stoner 1882, 1882] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress July 5, 2025.
Zavitz, Sherman. “Falls Honeymoon Tradition Began with ‘Prodigy'”, Niagara Falls Review, April 12, 2003.
Zavitz, Sherman. “Honeymoon Capital,” Niagara Falls Review, August 26, 2000.
Zavitz, Sherman. It Happened at Niagara: Stories from Niagara’s Fascinating Past. The Lundy Lane Historical Society, 2008.
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FAQs: Honeymoon Capital of the World
What is the honeymoon capital of the world?
Niagara Falls, Canada, and Niagara Falls, New York, both share the historic title “honeymoon capital of the world.” The tagline recognizes their mutual tourism boom during the 19th century and 20th century.
What is the origin of honeymoon?
The leading English-language authority, the Oxford English Dictionary dates the first appearance of the word “honeymoon” to the year 1546. Author John Heywood spelled it “hony moone” in his 1546 book of proverbs, Dialogue Proerbes English Tongue.
When did Niagara Falls honeymoon history begin?
Niagara Falls honeymoon history began in July 1801, when newlyweds Joseph Alston and Theodosia Burr Alston were recorded as the very first couple to visit Niagara Falls.
All opinions expressed are Spotlight Sojourns’ own.
All content and images are original, created with care by yours truly, Marilee Kostadimas and Paul Kostadimas, not AI. We’re the Hidden Gemologists of Spotlight Sojourns: Award-winning travel experts and slow travel storytellers. Because meaningful travel is part of a meaningful life. And stories enrich the meaning.