1930 Whitney Graham Company Pictorial Bird's Eye View Map of the Niagara Falls

This is a beautiful 1930 panorama of the Niagara Falls by the Whitney Graham Company. This bird’s eye view style map depicts the Niagara Gorge and the Great Gorge Route or the Niagara Belt Line. Along the way, several important monuments and events are illustrated. Some of these include Brocks monument, Niagara glen, table rock, old portage trail, devil’s hole massacre in 1763, fort George, etc. The Great Gorge Route is highlighted in red with illustrations of train cars.

In 1895, the International Railway Company founded The Great Gorge Route scenic attraction, a electric trolley belt line that surrounded the Niagara Gorge. Both the Canadian and American routes are depicted here. In Canada, the route ran from Niagara Falls to Queenston, while the American route ran from Niagara Falls to Lewiston. Considered one of the most scenic routes in the world, visitors riding the belt line could witness exceptional views of the whirlpool rapids, Devil’s Hole, the Narrows and the Giant Rock, among other attractions. The route was shut in 1935 following the Great Depression. Today, visitors can hike the Niagara Gorge Trail, which follows the now abandoned track lines.

The title cartouche contains the note ‘There is no automobile road through the Gorge’ with an illustration of a native American painting the sign. The whole is surrounded by a decorative border of Indian motifs. This map was drawn by C. L. Adams and issued by The Whitney Graham Company.