For as long as humans have inhabited this area, the Falls have drawn people to them. Rumors of them attracted early American explorers, and their sound could once be heard for several miles around. The crashing water, with its sound, smell, and sight, entertained visitors and brought them closer to nature. The Falls inspired letters and poetry and became the subject of paintings, postcards, photographs, and stereographs. An early stereograph preserved an image of the Falls before the riverbanks were lined with trees and industries. Since early settlement days, the Falls were a popular attraction, and stereographs allowed visitors to remember their magnificent scenery.