A 90-foot section of the hull dominates the main site. Representing less than half of the Niagara’s original length, this section contains the broken stern timbers and a long section of the ship’s bilge . This section of the hull was built to sustain the great weight of the steam machinery and includes many complex and important features of nautical architecture. At least 60 feet of the Niagara’s original length, however, still await discovery.

Although the engine's components have broken apart, they can all be examined at the wreck site. Because few paper records remain from the period, the jumbled but largely intact walking-beam engine and boilers on the Niagara offer a rare glimpse into antebellum steam engine technology. The large, diamond-shaped walking beam stands out among the engine machinery. This component earned its name by rocking up and down with each cycle of the piston as it transferred the energy from the Niagara’s single cylinder to the paddle wheel shafts. Pivoting high above the ship atop a giant A-frame, the walking beam looked awkward and fragile. The design, however, proved durable, safe, and reliable. It remained popular for coastal navigation late into the century.

The huge, cast-iron engine cylinder lies next to the walking beam. Measuring 14 feet long and 6 feet in diameter, the cylinder housed a piston 5 feet in diameter with a stroke of 10 feet. When the Niagara sank, the 7-inch diameter piston rod broke off flush with the cylinder top. The condenser is bolted to the cylinder’s bottom and the two have fallen over as a unit.

Sketch of the Niagara engine

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