Niagara Falls captain aims for thrills -- and safety

Great Lakes Today | By Dave Rosenthal

Published October 10, 2017 at 9:48 AM EDT

Capt. Rod MacDonald has been piloting Niagara Falls tour boats for 29 years. He's seen a lot on the Maid of the Mist -- from anniversary celebrations to fatal jumps over Horseshoe Falls.

But some things stay the same: He wants his passengers to experience the falls up close. And he wants to keep them safe amid the swirling, churning waters.

Maid of the Mist heads toward Horseshoe Falls

Great Lakes Today

Dave Rosenthal

Dave Rosenthal is Managing Editor of Great Lakes Today, a collaboration of public media stations that is led by WBFO, ideastream in Cleveland in WXXI in Rochester, and includes other stations in the region.

See stories by Dave Rosenthal