Street lamps in the city of Niagara Falls, New York, are powered by direct current (DC) hydropower. This early application of hydroelectricity demonstrated the potential of using the massive water flow of Niagara Falls for public lighting. The project was an important step towards the large-scale hydroelectric development of the falls, which would soon become a symbol of American industrial might and a major tourist attraction.

The lighting of Niagara Falls by hydropower captured the public imagination and became a symbol of the sublime power of nature harnessed by human ingenuity. This event is part of the context for the many poems and travelogues written about Niagara Falls, which often contrasted the falls' natural grandeur with the technological marvels built around it. It is a key moment in the American literary fascination with both the power of nature and the power of industry.