Travel and Tourism in Wilkinson's 19th Century Watercolour
August 30, 2017
Montmorency Falls has long been a popular year-round destination for Quebecers and tourists alike, each searching for an inspiring spot for contemplation, activities and revelry. In winter, the spray and mist at the foot of the waterfall create a 30-foot high mountain of ice and snow over the rapids, commonly referred to as the “Ice Cone.” This spectacular natural phenomenon just outside Québec City quickly became a major attraction. The area became a destination for climbing, snowshoeing, sledding and tobogganing, sleigh rides, sledding races, ice sculpture and even dancing and picnics! From the end of the 18th Century to around the 1870s, this “exotic” and festive site captured the interest of many British officers proficient in watercolour as well as professional painters and photographers.