The “Maid of the Mist” was launched in 1846 as a ferry service between the Canadian and American sides of Niagara Falls. Eight years later, a bridge made the ferry obsolete, and turned it into a tourist attraction that has lasted more than 150 years. Today, the Maid of the Mist offers the only boat tours of the falls from the American side. (A Canadian company offers tours from the Canadian side.)

The ship takes 600 passengers for an hours ride through the mist of American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls. I made this photo from high above the loading dock. A line of new passengers files into a tented structure at right, and when they emerge, each of them is wearing a blue poncho, which helps them stay relatively dry during the trip. This image embraces the entire embarkation process, and speaks of the massive numbers involved.