Giant mimosas and breakfast piles grab it all at luna. Open only from 1907 to 19 the park on the western coast of seattle was promoted as the nations greatest playground on the pacific coast. A selfpublished book and the first history of various amusement rides by an amusement ride builder and inventor. Looff, who carved and installed coney islands very first carousel, luna park took its name from coney islands luna park. This file contains memories of west seattle s luna park taken from oral history interviews conducted in 1999 by the southwest seattle historical society. Luna park seattle seattle history, seattle, western. Youll find a bit of park memorabilia if you look hard enough.
Amusement attractions included the figure eight roller coaster, a merrygoround, chutethechutes, the water slide, cave of mystery, and other funpark standards. The two first luna parks opened in cleveland and pittsburgh in 1905. Gift shop southwest seattle historical society log house museum. Known as the nations greatest playground on the pacific coast, seattle s luna park left a lasting legacy, despite its brief tenure. Growing up in california, angela flournoy often visited the place where her father is from, detroit, michigan. Seattle reads past years the seattle public library. If you headed to coney island at the turn of the century, you might wade in the water, eat some ice cream, or try out a rollercoaster at the newly opened amusement park, luna park.
A look back at seattles luna park, coney island of the. From 190719 luna park stood on the northern tip of west seattle, an amusement park known as the coney island of the west. Seattles luna park book king county library system. History of seattles small amusement park from 1907 19. Published on apr 3, 2017 take a look back at seattles amusement park past with a visit to the site of seattles first amusement park, luna park, located in the west seattle neighborhood. Luna park was built on the tide flats along duwamish head, not far from where seattles first settlers landed in 1851. Construction began in 1904, and the park opened on 18.
The turner house is a compelling consideration of the price we pay for our dreams, and the ways in which our families bring us home. Seattle news seattle times downtown seattle dust bowl great depression depression support thing 1 slums interesting history. This book brings back to life a number of lost treasures. On friday june 23, 1907, the seattle times headline. At its peak, ingersolls company ran over 40 amusement parks across the country and in such exotic locales as mexico city and berlin, germany. Order food online at luna park cafe, seattle with tripadvisor. The amusement park was a popular place for seattleites to swim, dance, and. Once two boilers were installed in its power plant, luna park was its own billboard, shining across elliott bay and up and down puget sound. Attractions seattle neighborhoods pioneer square seattle washington state history west seattle coney island emerald city history books pacific northwest. Esther klein, eva esfeld, and several other girls in swimming dresses wading at luna park, seattle 44761881. Bringing pleasure to the masses, amusement parks represented a taste of the future. And west seattles luna park cafe, which is located just up the road from the park site, has pictures of its namesake hung all over its walls. Over the years it has become a museum of sorts for all.
Looff, hailing from the eastern seaboard, drove pilings into the tide flats just off alki beach to construct a park that bore a striking resemblance to. By the turn of the century, seattle had become a burgeoning metropolis, and west seattle was a city in its own right. Luna park emerged on the north end of alki beach during the golden age of american amusement parks. Luna park cafe home seattle, washington menu, prices. Luna park, often called clevelands fairyland of pleasure, was created by fred ingersoll, a famous builder of amusement park rides. The idea behind luna is to serve delicious food and great milkshakes in a 1950s diner atmosphere. Luna park was euclid beach parks most significant competition throughout the. History of seattles luna park told through photographs. Media in category luna park, seattle the following 22 files are in this category, out of 22 total. This memory book is a unique collection of charming historic remembrances. It was located on a 35acre site bounded by woodhill rd.
Thanks to his meticulous research of west seattles luna park, naffs sepiatoned chronicle of seattles colorful history has been artfully recovered for seattlelites. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by. Luna park was an amusement park in seattle, washington that operated from 1907 until. Portland had the oaks and seattle decided to build luna park in west seattle, west of alki point, and it operated from 1907 to 19. Find best sellers about civil war, american legends, breweries and wineries, and more. Filled with seattle history both old and new, luna park cafe in west seattle is a treat for both the eyes and the appetite. Southwest seattle historical society tells the story of the alki votingrights fighter. This new phenomenon came to every major city when many. Longacres racetrack, luna park, moran brothers shipyards, yesler.
Histories from the crossingover place by coll thrush, shaping seattle architecture. Though open only briefly, luna park remains a vibrant piece of seattles history. The park was the 34th such construction project undertaken by the ingersoll constr. Rob ketcherside writes about local history through a series of. Head, where its twelve acre timber pile platform above the tides lured seattle to its attractions. Mon 16, luna park cafe in west seattle, full episode. Though open only briefly, luna park remains a vibrant piece of seattle s history. Rob ketcherside writes about local history through a series of blended rephotography then and now for the capitol hill seattle blog.
Between 1907 and 19, visitors were drawn to luna park in west seattle, the. He has led tours of seattles historic clocks for the seattle architecture foundation and. Described by its builders as the greatest outdoor amusement in the pacific northwest, luna park opened in 1907 below west seattle s duwamish. It is the architectural and entertainment industry triumph of two people whose combined imagination, passion for their work and. The book club play at youngstown cultural arts center in.
Seattle is one of many towns of the great pacific that is in love with itself and for good reason. The original luna park on coney island, a massive spectacle of rides, ornate towers and cupolas covered in 250,000 electric lights, was opened in 1903 by the showmen and entrepreneurs frederic thompson and elmer skip dundy. Thousands swam in the waters of its natatorium and twirled across the floor of its dance hall. July 28, 2011 prlog the newest addition to arcadia publishings popular images of america series is seattles luna park from local author aaron j. Luna park is shown here at low tide where it was built on the tide flats along duwamish head, not far from where seattles first settlers landed in 1851 at alki point. West seattles luna park was named for luna, the roman goddess of the moon. Today from s seattle history archive we share the story of when west seattle was a separate city. Luna park, the heart of coney island, is the most influential amusement park of all time, and the most wellknown alongside disney world.
West seattle was incorporated in 1902, and later annexed the districts of sprin. Billed as the nations greatest playground on the pacific coast, the park introduced the city to a host of novel attractions. Whitepages provides the top free people search and tenant screening tool online with contact information for over 250 million people including cell phone numbers and complete background check data compiled from public records, white pages and other directories in all 50 states. Pittsburghs originial lost kennywood follows the intriguing, intertwined stories of two very different amusement parks in suburban pittsburgh. Luna park was an amusement park that operated on the northern tip of alki point in west seattle from 1907 until 19. Although not an ancient city, it has a rich and vibrant history. Pleasureseekers rode shimmering horses, thundered down the roller coaster, and marveled at daredevils and sideshows. Kennywood in west mifflin and luna park in north oakland. Luna park was an amusement park in seattle, washington that operated from 1907 until 19. The amusement park is owned by the luna park reserve trust, an agency of the government of new south wales, and was added to the new south wales state heritage register on 5 march 2010.
Luna park, seattle news newspapers books scholar jstor january 2009 learn how and when to. Ask about our gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options. Alas, distant memory is all thats left of luna park, the west seattle amusement park that was once considered the coney island of the west. In august 2011, a pictorial history titled seattles luna park was released by arcadia publishing. Great book on an interesting part of seattle history. Looff, who carved and installed coney island s very first carousel, luna park took its name from coney islands luna park. The zeum carousel is now operating at yerba buena gardens in san francisco. The park was either named after the fanciful airship luna, part of the new park s central attraction a trip to the moon, or after dundys sister. Luna park, seattle coney island amusement park, amusement parks, seattle. Not wanting to be overshadowed by the big city next door.
A quiet book club cherished by its members becomes the subject of a documentary, causing all sorts of hilarious chaos. Although short lived, luna park takes up a sizeable place in washingtons rides and thrills history. Explore the fascinating history of the park when hot air. We provide answers to over 2 million searches every day, helping 35 million users. The turner house by angela flournoy plume books, 2014 love, sacrifice, pride, and unlikely inheritances.
The food is consistently good, they have veggie options for most meat items and the decor is entertaining to admire while awaiting your meal. The park s glittering nighttime display shone across the bay and arrested the attention of the city. Lost seattle hardcover the elliott bay book company. Butko takes readers on a rollicking trip to the rowdy picnic spot first called kennys grove, then we meet the ingersoll family of inventors who go from building rides at kennywood to. Luna park, built on a pier in west seattle, was designed as the coney island of the west. Luna park sydney is a heritagelisted amusement park located at 1 olympic drive, milsons point, north sydney council, new south wales, australia, on the northern shore of sydney harbour. Luna park, seattle s coney island of the west, enticed visitors with thrilling rides, garish amusements, and the longest bar on the bay for only six years, from 190719. A look back at seattles luna park, coney island of the west. Find out more about the history of luna park sydney from the 1990s to today. Thanks to his meticulous research of west seattles luna park, naffs sepiatoned chronicle of seattles colorful history has. Giant mimosas and breakfast piles grab it all at luna park cafe.
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