Niagara Falls

An unorthodox view of the iconic Niagara Falls from the early 1990s.

This cartoonish view of Niagara Falls was illustrated by Tom Dodds and published locally by La Maison Descartes in 1990. Large flags at the top of the sheet identify the American and Canadian sides of the map, with the massive Falls and Niagara River bisecting the scene from top to bottom.

Dozens of local businesses can be seen; including hotels, restaurants, and gift shops. Further advertisements promote radio stations, tourist attractions, and transportation options. Caricatured figures, often captioned, are shown in a variety of amusing situations. The humorous attitude also extends to several vignettes that highlight historic events, such as the unfortunate fate of the Steamer Caroline in 1837 (lower center).