A 63-year-old schoolteacher was the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel.

On October 24, 1901, Annie Edson Taylor climbed into a barrel made of strong oak and iron. The barrel was 4.5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. To make sure it was safe, she first sent a cat named Iaquino over the falls in the barrel. The cat survived, which gave Annie the courage to try it herself.She put a heavy anvil at the bottom of the barrel so it would float upright. As she went over the edge of Horseshoe Falls, the barrel reached speeds of 75 miles per hour. When she hit the bottom, the deep water was full of air bubbles. These bubbles acted like a giant cushion, which helped her survive the massive impact.The barrel was pressurized with a bicycle pump to help her breathe during the ride. Even though she survived, Annie never became rich like she hoped. Her manager actually stole her famous barrel while she was recovering. Today, it is illegal to try this stunt, and people who try it face huge fines or jail time.