The Cartoon that Saw it Coming

How we almost lost Niagara Falls

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For eons, the majestic Niagara Falls thundered with unparalleled force, showcasing nature’s unbridled power. But as the wheels of progress turned, fears arose that this natural wonder would be tamed by the hands of man. As factories mushroomed, the thirst for industrial power grew - leading to the diversion of the falls' waters.

J.S. Pughe ridiculed this abuse in his 1906 Puck Magazine cartoon - "Save Niagara Falls." He imagined it reduced to a mere cliff with pipes replacing the cascading waters. Tourist attractions sprouted in the dry riverbed - a barrel jump chute and a "Whirlpool" carousel - mocking the over-commercialization of this natural site.

“If You See a Cataract, It’s All in Your Eye.”

“See America, It’s Going Fast”

“Cave of the Winds Ice Cream Parlor

Public outcry was loud and clear: "Save Niagara Falls - from this!" Newspapers across the county sounded the alarm that the falls were on the “way to destruction.”

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Niagara Falls, straddling the boundary of the US and Canada, were beset by competing interest of conservationists, the tourist economy and reckless water diversion for massive hydro-electric projects.

But with the backing of conservation-minded President Teddy Roosevelt, Great Britain and the US hammered out the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 - halting development that might permanently mar the sacred and natural beauty of the Falls. (Note: Canada, was a dominion of the Crown of Britain at the time.)

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More cartoons by J.S. Pughe

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