It’s literally crumbling away.
In 2019, the wreck showed noticeable signs of ongoing deterioration. During a storm on the night of October 31 — the remnants of Tropical Storm Olga — powerful southwest winds pushed water levels in Lake Erie’s East Basin to new record highs. As a result, flow into the Niagara River at Fort Erie surged.
These extreme conditions dislodged the historic iron scow from its rocky perch, sending it drifting roughly 50 yards (46 metres) closer to the brink of going over the falls. According to the Niagara Parks Commission, the structure appeared to have rolled onto its side and rotated. A photograph later released by the commission confirmed the wreck was now lying on its side.
Read The Scuba News Canada Article About the Niagara Falls “Old Scow”
On November 20, 2025, the bow of the scow — a section that had separated from the main wreck in 2022 — became detached and drifted further downstream caused by Ontario’s wild winds and weather. The scow has remained for 107 years. Back in 1918, it resembled a full-sized boat in the river, but today it’s reduced to a cluster of rusted metal pieces resting roughly 200 metres from the Canadian shore. Experts doubt it will survive another 107 years.
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