5. Niagara Falls lured tourists from across the nation
As early as 1801, Niagara Falls became a destination for tourists and honeymooners. By the middle of the 19th century, the falls drew tourists from several American states, Canada, and Europe. Charles Dickens visited the falls during the winter in 1842, remaining there for over a week. By the 1920s tourism served as the region’s leading industry, with inns and hotels catering to visitors. Railroads offered special excursion fares to the falls from Buffalo, Cleveland, and New York City. Automobiles increased access to Niagara Falls and in 1921 a record number of visitors arrived in the area. They came to view the falls of course. But many also went to the site to take advantage of the access offered to Canada.
Canada enacted Prohibition in several provinces during the First World War, as a temporary wartime measure. In 1919, Quebec overturned the prohibition laws in its province. Though the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is in Ontario, where Prohibition remained in effect until 1927, the Province of Quebec offered destinations for tourists where alcohol could be had legally. Americans visited their Canadian neighbors in the west as well. Vancouver became a popular destination in 1921, with British Columbia repealing Prohibition that year. Reachable via sea, rail, and automobile, Vancouver welcomed American visitors during 1921, though never at the same rate as those visiting the falls to the east.