Niagara Falls: Honeymoon Capital (nickname)

Niagara Falls (both in New York and in Ontario, Canada) has been called the “honeymoon capital of the nation” or the “honeymoon capital of the world.” The “honeymoon capital” term became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, when people reached Niagara Falls by train. When air travel became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, Niagara Falls became less popular as a honeymoon destination.
 
“IOWA SENATOR’S GRANDSON AND BRIDE HONEYMOON IN CAPITAL Yes, next to Niagara Falls, Washington, D. C., is the mecca for honeymooners” was printed in many newspapers on December 11, 1922. “Honeymoon capital of America” (Niagara Falls) was printed in the Olympian Recorder (Olympia, WA) on March 21, 1926. “Niagara Falls Still the Honeymoon Capital” was printed in the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Evening Review on April 24, 1946. “Claim Poconos Now Honeymoon Capital” was printed in The Plain Speaker (Hazleton, PA) on April 21, 1958. “NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (UPI)—The magazine Modern Bride the other day proclaimed Florida the Honeymoon Capital of the U.S.A. Is Niagara Falls going to hold still for this?” was printed in the Jacksonville (FL) Journal on November 8, 1972.
 
 
Wikipedia: Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and named after the famed Niagara Falls which they share. The city is within the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area and the Western New York region.
 
Niagara Falls, USA
How Niagara Falls Became the Honeymoon Capital of the World
Romance is alive and well at Niagara Falls USA — discover why it’s a beloved destination of newlyweds and lifelong partners alike.
 
Long considered one of the most romantic places in the world, Niagara Falls gained notoriety as a honeymoon destination back in 1801 when Theodosia Burr, the daughter of U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr, and her new husband, Joseph Alston, the future governor of South Carolina, embarked from Albany to the Falls as part of their bridal tour. A few years later, Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, and his bride traveled from New Orleans to Niagara Falls via stagecoach to experience its splendor. Niagara Falls was originally considered to be a destination for the wealthy, but with new rail lines and the opening of the Erie Canal a few decades later, more couples began to flock to the majestic, natural wonder.
 
Newspapers.com
11 December 1922, The Daily Home News (New Brunswick, NJ), pg. 7, col. 4:
IOWA SENATOR’S GRANDSON AND BRIDE HONEYMOON IN CAPITAL
Yes, next to Niagara Falls, Washington, D. C., is the mecca for honeymooners, for what could be more romantic than sightseeing in the Nation’s capital during a honey moon?
 
Newspapers.com
21 March 1926, Olympian Recorder (Olympia, WA), “For the Brides,” pg. 4, col. 2:
And certainly the most blase of commentators will agree that steps should be taken to preserve forever the “honeymoon capital of America.” (Niagara Falls.—ed.)
 
Newspapers.com
22 May 1927, Sacramento (CA) Union, pg. 4, col. 1:
Historic Sacramento Region Replaces Niagara Falls As World ‘Honeymoon Capital’
 
Newspapers.com
25 October 1935, Pittsburgh (PA) Press, pg. 39, col. 4:
Honeymoon Capital Reports ‘Increase’
More Couples Go to Niagara Falls, Officials Declare
by The United Press
NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y., Oct. 25—An indication of better times was seen today in a United Press survey of the nation’s honeymoon capital, which revealed a decided decrease in the number of suicides and a marked increase in the number of couples who spent their honeymoons seeing Niagara Falls.
 
Newspapers.com
24 April 1946, Niagara Falls (Ontario) Evening Review, pg. 4, col. 1:
NIAGARA FALLS STILL THE HONEYMOON CAPITAL
It requires only the most casual glance around to see that Niagara Falls still retains its claim to be the honeymoon capital of the world, and it is also seen that many of the honeymooners are former veterans, from both sides of the line and some of the girls are also veterans.
 
Newspapers.com
21 April 1958, The Plain Speaker (Hazleton, PA), “Claim Poconos Now Honeymoon Capital,” pg. 11, col. 6:
Pointing out that the facilities of the vacation enterprises vary widely, the bank added that there has been an increase in “honeymooners only” resorts and that, as a result, “the Poconos have become a rival for Niagara Falls, and local partisans claim this is the new honeymoon capital of the country.”
 
WorldCat
Niagara Falls, Canada : a year round wonderland of awe inspiring beauty and majesty - honeymoon capital of the world
Authors:Niagara Falls, Canada Visitor & Convention Bureau, Ontario Department of Tourism and Information
Print Book, English, [1968?]
Publisher: Dept. of Tourism and Information, [Niagara, Ont.], [1968?]
 
Newspapers.com
8 November 1972, Jacksonville (FL) Journal, “Niagara Falls To Florida As Honeymoon Capital of the U.S.” by Gay Pauley, pg. 18, col. 1:
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (UPI)—The magazine Modern Bride the other day proclaimed Florida the Honeymoon Capital of the U.S.A.
   
Is Niagara Falls going to hold still for this?
 
X/Twitter
Sharon Canada 🇨🇦☮️
@HomeSellerQueen
Born in Canada.  Contrast the tale of the Two Cities of Niagara Falls. Both harnessed the great electric power of the Falls.  One embraced the beauty, one embraced the industrial opportunity.  One is dead and poisoned.  The other is still the Honeymoon Capital.
10:45 AM · Sep 13, 2019
 
X/Twitter
Bob Confer
@bobconfer
The City of Niagara Falls, NY was incorporated this day in 1892. Happy 130th birthday to the Honeymoon Capital of the World, the Cataract City!
9:05 AM · Mar 17, 2022
 
X/Twitter
Maybe: Tara
@Loucksauce
I can’t believe that Niagara Falls (US side) used to be the honeymoon capital
7:24 PM · Sep 25, 2023
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X/Twitter
cyn sims
@CYNDI12365
Why America Abandoned Its Honeymoon Capital: The Poconos, Pennsylvania https://youtu.be/2g3rWpSsd7o?si=K-dt541DekEdfs7c via
@YouTube
From youtube.com
11:07 PM · Jul 15, 2026