Niagara-on-the-Lake was originally called Onigahara by the aboriginal First People.

Niagara-on the-Lake is the original capital of Upper Canada which is now Ontario.

In 1781 the British Government purchased land from the Mississauga’s; a strip of land 6 miles wide along the western bank of the Niagara River for "300 suits of clothing". By 1782, 16 families had become established and had cleared 236 acres. In 1791 part of the military reserve at the mouth of the river was chosen as the future town site. In 1792, Newark - as it was named by Governor Simcoe became the first capital of the newly-created colony of Upper Canada, and the legislature met here for five sessions, until Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe moved the capital to York.

The physical appearance of the town, with the exception of the powder magazine at Fort George was virtually erased by the burning of the town by the Americans during the war of 1812.

In the 1880's, the Town was renamed as Niagara-on-the-Lake to avoid confusion with Niagara Falls. The central part is referred to as Old Town or Old Niagara. Rebuilt, Niagara became an active commercial centre, with a busy shipping and ship-building industry, as well as many shops and warehouses. The beautiful old homes lining the tree-shaded streets attest to the prosperity of its citizens.

Laura Ingersoll Secord, heroine of the War of 1812, the brave young woman set out on a perilous journey in the service of her country, and stepped forever into the history and folklore of Niagara. Re-locating to Upper Canada from Massachusetts with her father and siblings in 1795. It was from this Queenston homestead that Laura Secord began the journey that has earned her a place in Canadian history. On the evening of June 21, 1813, Laura and her husband James overheard an American plan of an impending attack on British forces. Her journey, a 32 km (20 m) treacherous route, took her more than 18 hours to complete. A woman walking alone toward enemy lines risked being arrested or even shot. Overcoming exceedingly hot temperatures and wild, unsettled land, her information led to an ambush of the invading Americans and defeated them at the Battle of Beaverdams, June 24, 1813. It wasn’t until 1860, almost fifty years later, that Laura received recognition of her act during a visit by Edward, Prince of Wales. She died in 1868 at the age of 93.