Historic plaque returns to ADA founding site
Ceremony restores landmark honoring birthplace of organized dentistry in United States
The American Dental Association joined the New York State Dental Association, the Eighth District Dental Society and local officials Aug. 4 in Niagara Falls, New York, to rededicate a commemorative plaque marking the site where the ADA was founded 167 years ago.
Originally dedicated to mark the ADA’s centennial in 1959, the historic marker had been absent from downtown Niagara Falls for more than a decade. The ceremony, held on Old Falls Street, commemorated the events of Aug. 4, 1859, when 26 dentists broke away from a national meeting at the nearby International Hotel and convened across the street at Grant Hall to establish the American Dental Association. According to the ceremony program, the group sought to create an organization grounded in scientific methods and best practices after expressing concerns about nonscientific approaches being promoted during the conference.
The original plaque from 1959 was dedicated by the Niagara County Dental Society. A replacement was unveiled in 2005 but was removed in 2015 during downtown redevelopment.
“This plaque … is going to signify the longevity, commitment, ethics and important role the profession of dentistry contributes to our society at large,” said ADA trustee Brendan Dowd, D.D.S.
The effort to find a site for a rededicated plaque was spurred by the Eighth District Dental Society. In a 2025 letter to local officials requesting support, John D. Craig, Ph.D., executive director of the Eighth District Dental Society, wrote that the original boulder-mounted plaque had been removed by city workers during redevelopment, placed in storage and later could not be located despite inquiries. The letter proposed dedicating a new plaque on Aug. 4, 2026, to coincide with the 167th anniversary of the ADA's founding. After the letter was sent, Empire State Development located the plaque that had been removed in 2015, and on the anniversary, it was officially returned to the site where the ADA began.
“We are proud to be part of this historic occasion and to recognize the vision and leadership of the 26 dentists who, here in Niagara Falls 167 years ago, established an organization grounded in scientific excellence, professional ethics and a shared commitment to advancing the profession of dentistry,” said NYSDA President-elect Lynn Stacy, D.D.S. “Their leadership laid the foundation of organized dentistry, creating a unified voice for the profession and setting standards that continue to shape dental care and improve the oral health of patients across the country. As part of the tripartite, NYSDA is proud to carry that legacy forward alongside the ADA and our local dental societies.”
Working with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Destination Niagara USA, organizers identified a new permanent location on Old Falls Street for the monument. The dedication ceremony was organized by the Western New York dental community in partnership with Empire State Development.
“We are very proud of the fact that the largest and most influential national dental organization in the world was founded right here in the Falls. It was founded based on science, ethics and the efficacious care of all our patients,” said Niagara County Dental Society representative Lawrence Volland, D.D.S.
