Town Marshall, Charles Collins, ticketing a car along Conduit Road (MacArthur Boulevard). Note the 12MPH limit.
ca. 1907
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
Marshall Collins had no legal jurisdiction on the federally owned road and caused much consternation for several years to unwary drivers.
ca. 1907
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
Another copy of the Marshall Collins card with an inscription.
ca. 1907
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
This old Chautauqua building was used by the amusement park as a restaruant for many years.
ca. 1908
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
The main entrance complex to the amusement park.
ca. 1904
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
Movies and prize fights were held in the 6,000 seat ampitheatre, this view shows the main entrance way.
ca. 1902
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
A close-up view of the main entrance to the park. The tall tower still stands.
ca. 1904
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
A bit more detail of the ampitheatre entrance area. Most of the ornate cedar structures are left over from the chautauqua period.
ca. 1905
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
The park built a ferris wheel right outside the front door of Clara Barton's house, trying to drive her out so they could use the house as a hotel. The house can be seen at the right edge of the image.
ca. 1904
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
Nearly identical to the previous card, this version has 'Glen Echo' on it twice.
ca. 1904
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
Another view of the ferris wheel in front of Clara Barton's house.
ca. 1904
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
The restaruant at Glen Echo Park, originally the offices of the chautauqua.
ca. 1907
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
One of Glen Echo's earliest roller coasters 'The Dip' utilized the natural landscape of the park, running the coaster deep into the creek valley.
ca. 1907
Real Photo Postcard
This is perhaps the first carrousel at Glen Echo. It was found with other Glen Echo items and is the same size as their first carrousel.
ca. 1904
Real Photo Postcard
A one of a kind postcard of the park entrance
ca. 1904
Real Photo Postcard
An unusual view of the restaruant showing the Mangels carrousel in the background
1907
Real Photo Postcard
Arched entrance to the park where the trolley once entered the grounds
1907
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
The C & O Canal, Lock 7, adjacent to the amusement park.
ca. 1904
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
A 1921 postcard of the Glen Echo carrousel used by the manufacturer for publicity.
c1921
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
Real Photo Studio Postcards
From its earliest years Glen Echo had a photographic studio in the park. Visitors would visit the studio, have their photo taken and then come back later in teh day to pick up the photo. At various times the studio used backdrops that reflected current events; at other times they used a simple scenic backdrop.
A photographic studio was set up inside the ampitheatre, this postcard was taken in that studio and shows a lad who worked at the park (take a close look at his employee's cap).
ca. 1910
Real Photo Park Studio Postcard
Here a Glen Echo Park police officer has his photo taken on the same bench as the young man in the previous card. It says "Glen Echo Park - Police" on his hat. He is wearing the same badge that appears in the Souvenirs section.
ca. 1910
Real Photo Park Studio Postcard
Another one of a kind postcard of a visiting family, taken at the park studio
1908
Real Photo Park Studio Postcard
Nice studio postcard taken at Glen Echo - 'The Man in the Moon'
1908
Real Photo Park Studio Postcard
A shot of a family group sitting in a Dip car whihc was apparently moved into the studio.
c1907
Real Photo Postcard, Glen Echo, MD
Postcard Sized Real Photo Pictures
Some of the Glen Echo photographic studio pictures were printed postcard size but without the postcard back printing.
Around 1910 there were multiple arrests at Glen Echo for Blue Laws violations. This prompted the scene of this card. Notice the double exposure.
ca. 1912
Real Photo Park Studio Postcard
Two women behind the same foreground as the last card.
ca. 1912
Real Photo Park Studio Postcard
Another takeoff on the Glen Echo arrests, a foreground painting of a 'Ball & Chain Gang' with the same two women as the previous card.
ca. 1912
Real Photo Park Studio Postcard
The park had a photo studio for most of its life. This comedic shot is from the 1940's.
ca. 1940
Real Photo Park Studio Postcard
Lithographed Postcards
Lithographed cards were used at Glen Echo from around 1908 until about 1940. These cards are printed on a printing press rather than by a photographic process. These cards were more economical to produce.
Card #1 of a six card series, showing the Hydraulic Dive, an early roller coaster at Glen Echo.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Card #2 of a six card series of the Hydraulic Dive. The cars had pipes under the floor that took up water in an under-track.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards
Card #3 of a six card series of the Hydraulic Dive. Water shot up through the roof of the cars
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards
Card #4 of a six card series of the Hydraulic Dive. Water cascaded over the roof like a waterfall.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards
Card #5 of a six card series of the Hydraulic Dive. When first built, the cars went too fast and the water fell behind the cars.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards
Card #6 of a six card series of the Hydraulic Dive. To fix the ride they instaled a brake system and had a breakman ride along.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards
A single card of the Hydraulic Dive.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards
A nice view of the ferris wheel in front of Clara Barton's house.
ca. 1904
Lithographed Postcards
The Dip, an early coaster built in the creek valley, very similoar to one of the real-photo cards above.
ca. 1906
Lithographed Postcards
The creek was dammed to create this small lake.
ca. 1908
Lithographed Postcards
The secnic railway station.
ca.1908
Lithographed Postcards
The station for the dip.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Looking down the tracks of the dip running among the old Chautauqua buildings.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The entrance to Glen Echo Park with horse drawn carriages and trolleys.
ca. 1910
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The carrousel (the second one) at Glen Echo. Made by the Mangles Company.
ca. 1910
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Looking up the Potomac River from the top of the ferris wheel.
ca. 1905
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Looking over the amusement park from the top of the ferris wheel.
ca. 1905
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Looking down the Potomac River from the top of the ferris wheel.
ca. 1905
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The Clara Barton House with a scenic railroad track and station right outside her front door.
ca. 1907
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The restaruant building at the park, similar to a real photo card above.
ca. 1908
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Pathway to the motor boats the park operated on the C & O Canal.
ca. 1906
Lithographed Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Later Lithographed Postcards
Later lithographed cards featured a white border around the edge. These cards are also printed on a printing press rather than by a photographic process.
The Clara Barton house as seen well into the amusement park period.
ca. 1950
Later Lithographed Cards
Assorted Type Postcards
Here are a few odds & ends that defy categorization.
Captian Video, a TV show star visited the park in his Videomobile.
ca 1954
Assorted Postcards
Cowboy Joe Cambbell, a local tv show host also visited the park.
ca. 1960
Assorted Postcards
A general greeting card customized by a park visitor to be a greeting from Glen Echo. From 1907
Assorted Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Linen Postcards
Color enhanced the sale of postcards at Glen Echo. The first color card type sold at the park were called "Linens" as they had a cloth like texture embossed on the surface.
The World Cruise, a tunnel of love ride showed scenes of the world.
From 1939
Linen Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The Crystal Pool, a bigger than Olympic sized pool, was popular on hot Washington days.
From 1939
Linen Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The Motor Boats were only at the park for a few years, suffering from gasoline rationing during the war.
From 1939
Linen Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The Spanish Garden Ballroom hosted many of the biggest of the Big Bands.
From 1939
Linen Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The Coaster Dips thrilled riders from 1921 until 1968.
From 1939
Linen Postcards
A linen card showing the picnic area.
From 1940
Linen Postcards
Chrome Postcards
The next type of color postcards were "Chromes" named for the hard shiny surface. Some of these cards look like they are photographs, but they are actually printed.
At one time the Glen Echo Fire Department was in the town of Glen Echo, it is now a few miles away in Bethesda.
ca. 1970
Chrome Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
Only here because it was photographed at Glen Echo, the staff of WHFS radio appear on this card.
ca. 1970
Chrome Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The front of a folding card advertising Glen Echo Park on the inside. The outside features the Anheuser Busch clydesdales.
ca. 1955
Chrome Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The back of a folding card advertising Glen Echo Park on the inside. The outside features the Anheuser Busch clydesdales.
ca. 1955
Chrome Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
A nice color shot of the Crystal Pool filled with happy bathers.
ca, 1965
Chrome Postcards, Glen Echo, MD
The Coaster Dips cars racing through the trees at night.
ca. 1965
Chrome Postcards
Continentals Postcards & other Large Format cards
Standard postcards were 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" the Continental format was 4" x 6", some cards were up to 6" x 9".
The Crystal Pool - oversized 6" x 9" postcard.
ca. 1965
Continental & Large Format Park Cards, Glen Echo, MD
Post Amusement Park Postcards
After the amusement park closed people were still interested in the park's past. Several organizations and one individual have published postcards since the closing of the park. Some of most are in the style of the old lithograph cards, but lack the detail and clarity of the older cards.
The Clara Barton house as seen in 1904.
ca. 1975
Post Amusement Park Cards, Glen Echo, MD
The Dentzel Carrousel as seen in 1921.
ca. 1975
Post Amusement Park Cards, Glen Echo, MD
A 1940's view of the amusement park entrance.
ca. 1975
Post Amusement Park Cards, Glen Echo, MD
The interior of the Chautauqua Ampitheatre for an 1891 image.
ca. 1975
Post Amusement Park Cards, Glen Echo, MD
A previously seen image of the Dentzel Carrousel, published a bit later.
ca. 1980
Post Amusement Park Cards, Glen Echo, MD
Walking along a path to the Hall of Philosophy at the Glen Echo Chautauqua from an 1891 image.
ca. 1990
Post Amusement Park Cards, Glen Echo, MD
A 1950's image of the Crystal Pool published after the park closed.
ca. 1990
Post Amusement Park Cards, Glen Echo, MD
Looking out from under a Chautauqua building, two women walk toward the flying airplane ride.
ca. 1975
Post Amusement Park Cards
A 1940's roller coaster photo mistakenly identified as Glen Echo, it is actually of Marshall Hall Park.
ca. 1975
Post Amusement Park Cards
A 1940's roller coaster photo mistakenly identified as Glen Echo, it is actually of Marshall Hall Park.
ca. 1980
Post Amusement Park Cards
Republished Postcards
Since the park closed some cards habe been republished, seldom with the quality of the originals.
Reprint of a previously seen card from 1907.
ca. 1975
Republished Cards, Glen Echo, MD
Reprint of a 1940 card showing the picnic area. The original is very scarce.
ca 2001
Republished Cards, Glen Echo, MD
Recent Continentals Postcards
Finally, some recent cards published as chromes in the continental format (a different size than traditional cards).
1950's view of the central area of the park with a nice view of the roller coaster.
ca. 1990
Continental Postcards, Glen Eco, MD
Color carrousel card, a nice night shot.
ca.2005
Continental Postcards, Glen Eco, MD
A close-up view of one of the Glen Echo carrousel horses before restoration.
ca. 1990
Continental Postcards, Glen Eco, MD
Color shot of two restored carrousel horses at Glen Echo.
ca. 2005
Continental Postcards, Glen Eco, MD
