Rhode Islanders were
once able to enjoy amusement parks without travelling far; the
State was home to several ocean front parks as early as the
mid-19th Century, with some of them surviving into the late 20th
Century. Photographers Rob Lewis and Ryan Young have embarked on a
journey to discover the amusement parks of the past in this
delightful and unprecedented collection of images.
Rhode Island Amusement Parks
brings back the memories of a time less complicated than the
present, when a sense of family held communities together. View
the parks that provided a recreational outlet for so many Rhode
Island families and the visitors who frequented them. Scenes from
several neighbouring Massachusetts amusement parks are also
pictured. The images in this collection are from two large private
archives as well as treasured family collections. Special
highlights include photographs of hand-operated rides of the 1800s
and views of President Taft's plane, which landed at Sandy Beach
in 1911. Also featured is Vanity Fair, an amusement park that
lasted only five years during the first decade of this century.
Residents of these communities will enjoy seeing Rhode Island as
it once was and will witness the changes it has endured over the
years.
Rob Lewis and Ryan Young have
compiled an impressive collection of images and a thoroughly
researched text in Rhode Island Amusement Parks. Returning to the
amusement parks of yesteryear is sure to evoke fond memories among
older generations and spark a historical interest among younger
ones.
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