Despite heavy wind and thick mist, 33 year old tightrope walker Nik Wallenda became the first person in history to walk across the widest part of the Niagara Falls on a wire last night. The incredible task was last accomplished in 1896 by James Hardy, 21. He walked across a shorter and less treacherous section of the falls, however.

Wallenda, 33, had wanted to make the 1,800 trek since he was a child. It took him 34 minutes to make the death-defying trip along a wire roughly two inches wide. He started his feat on the American side and ended on the Canadian side of the falls. Wallenda had permission to do the stunt, although it took him several months to convince park officials to let him try.