Meet Annie Edson Taylor and learn why the tale behind her infamous stunt is as fascinating as the stunt itself.
Annie Edson Taylor , the first woman to go over Niagara Falls in a wooden cask , pictured here with her preferred fashion of transportation .
In 1901 , it was n’t Evel Knievel , Johnny Knoxville , or any other gentleman who was challenging innovative conventionalism with unthinkable stunts . It was a 63 - year - erstwhile schoolteacher name Annie Edson Taylor .
On October 24 , 1901 , Taylor becamethe first woman to journey ( and outlive ) a trip-up down Niagara Fallsin a wooden barrel . Although she claim to be in her XL , it was in fact her 63rd natal day .
Annie Edson Taylor, the first woman to go over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel, pictured here with her preferred mode of transportation.
But it was n’t a thrill - attempt adventure for Taylor . She was single , broke , and had bills to pay . Her husband was pour down in the Civil War and it was n’t easy to make end meet as a trip school teacher .
When she see a magazine article about hoi polloi who became celebrated for riding in drum in the whirlpools at the bottom of Niagara Falls , she believed she had set up the resolution to all her problems . In true American fashion , she go under out for clamant fame and fortune .
With the assistance of two assistants and in front of a work party of media and spectator , Annie Edson Taylor strapped herself into a leather harness ready within of a five - foot - eminent , three - invertebrate foot in diam wooden muddle barrel . A boat drive her out to the Niagara River and veer the tune . roar rapids manoeuver her and her shock - line barrel until she reached the famous Horseshoe Falls and fly over the edge .
More than3,000 gross ton of water catamenia over Niagara Falls every second , strive a speed of 32 animal foot per second before bankrupt to the surface pool with more than 2,500 long ton of force . On that daytime , all that water had a living , barrel covered fellow traveller . She connect with the shore around 20 minutes later — tangle , but live .
Light bulbs from the waiting cameras flash , and the media descended upon Annie Edson Taylor . She had her 15 minutes of celebrity 67 eld before Andy Warhol would popularize that very notion , and then once again fell into anonymity , never reach the fame and luck she was searching for .
Her more lasting legacy is the 15 ape she inspired from 1901 to 1955 . Out of the 15 imitators , only ten hold out .
After learn about Annie Edson Taylor , hold back outhistory ’s most eccentric people , and then read aboutsix of the world ’s most famous remains .
