Since 1850, more than 5,000 people have gone over , either intentionally (as stunts or ) or accidentally. The first recorded person to survive going over the falls was school teacher , who in 1901 successfully completed the stunt inside...

Historically, a total of 16 people have been recorded as having intentionally gone over Niagara Falls in a barrel or similar device as a stunt, though only 9 of them survived. The first person to successfully complete the feat was a 63-year-old schoolteacher named Annie Edson Taylor in 1901, who went over the Horseshoe Falls in an oak barrel. Since then, various "daredevils" have used everything from steel spheres to rubber balls. In 2026, performing such stunts is strictly illegal and punishable by heavy fines (often exceeding $10,000) and potential jail time on both the U.S. and Canadian sides. Beyond the 16 "stunt" attempts, hundreds of others have gone over the falls accidentally or as suicide attempts. Of those who survived the accidental plunges, the most famous is Roger Woodward, a seven-year-old boy who survived a fall in 1960 wearing only a life jacket. The falls remain a site of immense power and danger, and modern safety barriers are rigorously maintained to prevent any further "over the edge" incidents.