Published in 1698 by Father Louis Hennepin, the book is a rare first edition. It also details the first published eye-witness account of the falls by Hennepin.

"Father Hennepin was the first European to write down what Niagara Falls looks like," said Tania Denis, curator of the Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum in Queenston, where the book is on display. "Twenty years later he gave Europe the first account of a giant waterfall."

Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor Gary Burroughs was at the June 13 event to give thanks to Bob Gale for loaning the book to the Museum.

"This is a book that not many people have seen," said Burroughs. "That the Gales have let us enjoy it is a great statement of their behalf."

Bob Gale, a Niagara Falls business man and Niagara Parks commissioner, bought the book after finding it for sale stateside.

"I always search for different things of historical importance on the internet," said Gales. "I bought it through a place in California. It means something to us here in Niagara Falls, it wouldn't mean anything to them in California."

This will be the first time the book is on public exhibit and it will remain there until Labour day weekend.

A new plaque to honour Father Louis Hennepin was also unveiled. The original plaque, that stands at the bottom of Murray Hill where it is believed he wrote his eye-witness account from, was previously damaged and removed.