Columbia Fun Maps – Vancouver, B.C. Including Victoria

“The Columbia FunMaps Company claimed to cover “the Gay and Lesbian World.” They issued travel maps for American cities like New York, Atlanta, and Washington, DC, but also for European cities like Amsterdam, Zürich, and Hamburg.” – New York Public Library. This tourist map of Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia was published in 1998 by the Columbia FunMaps Company. Aimed for an LGBTQ audience, simple street plans locate various amenities that would have been welcoming. Hotels, bars, nightclubs, spas, and other attractions are listed, but only a few are pinpointed within the maps. Surrounding advertisements present further tempting options, including a 25-cent peep show! The maps published by the Columbia FunMap Company are vital historical catalogs of the LGBTQ “gay economy” during the late 20th century, offering a rare glimpse into the commercial and social networks that supported the community. These queer-friendly spaces often faced high turnover rates due to unfriendly public perceptions and homophobic prejudice, making the maps important and ephemeral documentation. Source.