Amusement Parks & Resorts at Spanish Fort

1820s ? - Alligator Pond

Very Interesing, but unfortunately, gone! Source: New Orleans Public Library--Images of the Month http://www.nutiras.org/~nopl/monthly/mar99/mar9913.htm

1880 - Another view of the Alligators

ca. 1880 Title: Alligator island at Spanish Fort Creator: Lilienthal, Theodore, 1829- Description: A group of spectators view alligators sunning on a small grassy island. Rowles Stereograph Photographs Source: Louisiana State Museum http://www.lsu.edu/diglib/

1880 - Casino

ca. 1880 Title: Casino Spanish Fort Creator: Mugnier, George Fran?ois, 1855-1936 Source: Louisiana State Museum http://appl005.lsu.edu/LSM.nsf/0d6463f4d93cecd68625689c00470f5c/cdcc7e89857565b0862569f9004f77c3?OpenDocument

1880 - And more Alligators

ca. 1880 Title: Alligator Spanish Fort Photographer: Blessing, S. T. Description: Alligators sunning on a small grassy island at Spanish Fort. Rowles Stereograph Source: Louisiana State Museum http://www.lsu.edu/diglib/

1901- Roller Coaster

The Zephyr at Spanish Fort. Notice how it extends far into the lake. Looks like fun. When Pontchartrain Beach Amuesment Park moved to Milneburg (U.N.O. area) the Zephyr was the most popular ride. The current Jazz Land Park in New Orleans East also has a Zephyr.

1901 - Manneseur's Pavillion

1901 - Ferris Wheel

The photo above (and its accociated photos) from the US Library of Congress-New Orleans Historic Photo Library. Click here for the entire collection. http://www.icorp.net/la/no-img/

1910 - Postcard

Postcard postmarked 1910. F. M. Kirby & Company of New Orleans Louisiana issued this view of the "Old Spanish Fort" in New Orleans.

1910's Amusement Park

1912 Postcard

A popular resort on the shore of Bayou St. John at the Lake during the 19th and early 20th century. This post card uses a 1912 photograph to advertise some of the delights that awaited anyone who rode the streetcar out to the end of the bayou. All that remains of the resort are the ruins of the colonial fortification that gave its name to the area. The amusement park moved to the end of Elysian Fields Avenue in the 1930s; we remember it well as Pontchartrain Beach. Source: New Orleans Public Library--Crescent City Memory Collection http://www.gnofn.org/~nopl/exhibits/ccmem/4.htm

1920s Postcard

1922 Postcard reads "Spanish Fort, the Coney Island of New Olreans

1910s ? Postcard

Notice railroad tracks for the "Smokey Mary".

1890s ? Postcard - An afternoon at Spanish Fort Resort

Divided back post card, Published by C. B. Mason, #7. Historical Spanish Fort Lake Resort was operated at this time by the New Orleans Railway & Light Co.

1923 - The Beginning of the End

Prepararion for land reclamation which would leave Spanish Fort some 5,000 feet from the Lakeshore. The result will be subdivisions, some green space, Lakeshore Drive, and the seawall.

1885 - More Alligators - They must have been quite popular

From an article in "HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE", (New York) measures 5" x 7 3/4". Engraving is titled: "THE ALLIGATOR TANK AT SPANISH FORT, NEW ORLEANS"