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San Diego History Center

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PURCHASE HISTORICAL PHOTOS

Early San Diego Amusement Parks

Belmont Park roller coaster ~ 1925

Unknown Location

  • Early San Diego carousel

Coronado's Tent City, about 1915

  • multi-wheel ride
  • burros for hire

Wonderland - Ocean Beach Amusement Park

  • Abbott Street park entrance
  • roller coaster & waterslide
  • mother & two children, Monkeyland sign

The Isthmus, Panama-California Exposition, Balboa Park 1915-1916

  • Ferris Wheel, Thompson's roller coaster in background
  • Thompson's Scenic Railway entrance
  • Palais de Dance
  • Toadstool ride
  • The Yelps (an early Matterhorn without the bobsled ride)

Belmont Park - Mission Beach Amusement Park

  • Giant Dipper roller coaster on opening day - July 4 1925
  • Giant Dipper line, ticket booth detail of above
  • Giant Dipper ticket booth and train
  • Carousel and Fun House
  • Fun House entrance
  • Bath House, c. 1925
  • Mission Beach, c. 1925
  • Aerial view of Mission Beach, 1926
  • Aerial view of Mission Beach, c. 1927
  • Sailors and bathers at food stands, c. 1942

The Midway, California Pacific Exposition, Balboa Park 1935-1936

  • Crime Never Pays, Ripley's Believe-It-or-Not, Monsters Alive
  • Bailout, parachute jump - detail

Del Mar Fairgrounds

  • Ferris wheels on "Gay Way", 1948

All content on this website is the property of San Diego History Center and may not be used for any purpose. To obtain reproduction rights and prices, see our Access Fee list and Production Fee list or contact the Photograph Archives at (619) 232-6203 or via email at collections@sandiegohistory.org.

Use of this web site constitutes agreement with the above.

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