Crescent Park
Riverside, R.I. 1886~1979
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There are many pictures on this page ... grouped by years or topic. Please make sure you scroll the entire page to see all the pictures. By clicking on any one picture in a group, you will start a slideshow for the pictures in that group. If you have any photos, postcards, or videos to share on the site please send them to the Site Adminstrator.
The Simmons Collection (part 1) - All from 1963 (Photos courtesy of RAY SIMMONS)
Please do not use, copy or share these photos without Mr. Simmons' permission.
The Simmons Collection (part 2) (Photos courtesy of RAY SIMMONS)
Please do not use, copy or share these photos without Mr. Simmons' permission.
The Simmons Collection (part 3) (Photos courtesy of RAY SIMMONS)
Please do not use, copy or share these photos without Mr. Simmons' permission.
Ed Swerowik, Andy Fales, Bob Sharky Stevenson
1886-1920
Original Carousel on Beach with George Boyden
Earliest known photo of the Carousel, before the cupola was added in 1898
Looff Family in Front of Carousel 1900
Charles I.D. Looff and Family sitting on his Showcase Carousel at Crescent Park - Early 1900s
Crescent Park Hotel 1890s
Hotel and Lawn about 1899
On the Lawn at Crescent Park 1890s
Band Stand - Currently Larisa Park
Crescent Park Railroad Station
Midway early 1900s
Toboggan Slide 1905
Back of the Chutes Ride
Back of the Chutes
Hand Engine Firemens 1890s
Enterance to Roller Coaster 1920
Dance Hall - Later became the Alhambra Ballroom
Original Coaster Postcard
1895 Crescent Park Trolley in Downtown Providence
Crescent Park Trolley c1910
Original Midway Facade at Crescent Park
Exposition Hall at Crescent Park c.1900
Steeple Chase in 1906 at Crescent Park RI
Midway c.1918
Allan Carlson (Lifelong Riverside Resident) and his parents at Crescent Park 1917
Photo taken in the Crescent Park "Wagon"
Unknown Family Photo at Crescent Park 1921
Unknown Women in the Crescent Park Boat Photo Booth
Midway 1920
Crescent Park Bandstand 1900
Old view of Park from what is not Crescent View Avenue
Women at Crescent Park 1914
Top of the Midway 1915 (pole in the center is where Bullocks Pt. Avenue is today)
Miniature Railway c. 1920
Hippodrome - One of the 1st attractions at the Park
Flying Eagle Ride - Check out the guys pulling the ropes to make it go
Rivers of Venice and Midway c. 1900
Amusement Street c.1900
Dance Hall and Miniature Railroad c. 1905
Midway crows with Bamboo Slide in Background
One of the first pictures of the Bamboo Slide
Bamboo Slide before the lettering was placed on the attraction
Bamboo Slide and Alhambra Dance Hall
Another Bamboo Slide Postcard Image
Top of the Midway in 1911
Tickler 1905
Chute the Shoots 1908
Ladies by the side of the Shooting the Chutes ride 1899
Another Early Shoot the Chutes Photo
Rare Shooting the Chutes Photo... look at the speed of that boat!
Shoot the Chutes
Midway 1911
Beach, Boats, & the Pier
Ferry and Crescent Park Pier in 1886, the year the Park opened
Crescent Park Boat Ferry in Providence RI c.1905
Folks arriving at Crescent Park Pier via Ferry Boat c. 1905
Folks in Pawtuxet (Cranston) boarding the ferry boat to Crescent Park
Crowded Pier at Crescent Park
Crescent Park Pier
Crescent Park Pier with Dance Hall, Hotel and Original Carousel
Boating at Crescent Park Beach c1910
Crescent Park Beach looking down toward the Terrace section of Riverside
Postcard of Crescent Park Pier and Hotel in the background
Boats docked at Crescent Park Pier Postcard 1890s
Crescent Park Beach c. 1910
Boat Rides from the Crescent Park Pier
Looff's New Crescent Beach
Steamboat Landing at Crescent Park
Steamboat Landing at Crescent Park 1916
Harrington's Crescent Park Beach
Crescent Park Beach looking down toward The Terrace
Boat Landing
To the Bathhouses
1954 Hurricane Aftermath
1890s Photo of ship an Pier. Notice original beach Carousel in background.
Visit the Skating Rink
Crescent Park from the Water
1921-1959
Original "Comet" Coaster (The BIG ONE)
Inside of Crescent Park Fun House 1930
Family Photo at Crescent Park 1924
The PRETZEL Ride
1954 Aerial view of Crescent Park and the Zephyr Coaster
Pony Track at Crescent Park
Pony Track Boys at Crescent Park RI
"Pickles" was one of the star ponies at Crescent Park in the early 1950s
Lenny Carlson at the Crescent Park Pony Barn
Midway about 1930
Crescent Park Bandstand from 1940s/1950s
Aerial Image from 1940s showing walking bridge from the back of the park over to Haines Park in Barrington
Fakir's Row (part of Midway) Crescent Park, RI
Lenny Carlson in front of the Carousel 1948
Crescent Park Roller Rink c.1950
Inside of Crescent Park Roller RInk
Skaters at the Crescent Park Roller Rink 1950s
Crescent Park Roller Rink and Skaters 1950
George Murdock and Partner - Crescent Park Roller Rink
Crescent Park Skater 1950s
George Murdock & Partner
Joe Carlson & Partner
Skating Pair at Crescent Park 1950s
Roller Stake Shop at Crescent Park
Skating Pair at Crescent Park
Graceful Skater at Crescent Park
Charlie Kronson - Crescent Park Roller Rink Manager 1940s-1950s
Skaters competing at the Crescent Park Roller Rink c.1950
Crescent Park Lady Skaters from the 1950s
Photo taken from a Rider on the Satellite looking down on the Midway 1950s
The Satellite on the Midway
Eddy Zack Band and Charlie Kimmence at Crescent Park
Eddy Zack Band and Charlie Kimmence at Crescent Park
Original "Comet" Coaster from the 1930s
The Roller Coaster
The Crescent Park Coaster around 1930
The Zephyr Coaster
Top of the Zephyr Coaster 1950s
Crescent Park Sign
Midway 1950s - Check out the water fountain in the foreground... we called it a 'BUBBLA'
Police car in front of the Zephyr Coaster 1958
Charlie Hall of the EPPD at Crescent Park 1959
Penny Arcade next to the Carousel
The great Penny Arcade on the Midway
Doll Game Stand
Bubble Bounce and Ferris Wheel Rides 1950s
Postcard of Crescent Park Beach
Beverly & Shirley Gregory in C.P. Photo Booth c.1950
The Whip - Excluding the Carousel, this ride was the longest running ride in Park history
Aerial Shot of Crescent Park 1950s
Silver Streak Ride - 1950s
Silver Streak Ride
Dodgem and Tango on the Midway
Crescent Park Business Office 1950s
Shore Dinner Postcard from the 1950s/60s - Cost $3.75
Aerial View c1958
Guys at the Carousel late 1950s
Midway 1950s
McCusker's Popcorn Stand 1950s
Having Fun at Crescent Park 1930s?
1960-1969
The Incline of the FLYING FISH
Young rider in one of the Flying Fish cars
Angelo and Rio in from the Flying Fish
My favorite Picture of the Park... From the top of the Ferris Wheel overlooking my favorite rides
Flying Tigers and Concessions
Carousel Crew in the late 1960s
Palm Reading
McCusker's Pop Corn & Salt Water Taffy 1960
Play Your Month Game
Midway late 1960s
Joe Kadan running the Carousel
Midway
Midway Concessions at Night ~ Late 1960s
Midway 1960s
Kiddie Land - Police Car Ride - 1966 (Yup, that's me in the Police Car)
Kiddie Land - Flying Saucer Ride - 1966
Kiddie Carousel 1966
Kiddie Land Boats 1966
Kidde Train 1961
Peggy Rochette watching son Lenny on the Clown Cars in Kiddie Land 1961
Peggy Rochette and son Lenny on the Midway 1961
Kiddie Land 1961
All aboard the Crescent Park R.R.
Leaving IRON HORSE STATION for a train ride
The Whip
Kiddie Land 1966
Games on the Midway 1960s
Ray Rusin 1969 in the Carousel
Ring Master 1969
Carousel Operator 1969
Bob Newman running the Carousel 1960s
Ticket Booth inside Carousel
Ferris Wheel Operator 1969
The Dodgem (or Bumper Cars) in 1969 - Can't you still smell the mix of electricity and burnt rubber? ahhhh the memories!
Girls strolling the Midway 1969
Fish Game 1969
Crescent Inn c. 1960
Back Parking Lot of Crescent Park as seen from Crescent View Avenue
Don Gregory (my dad) directing traffic on Bullocks Pt. Avenue for entry into the Park
Aerial View of Crescent Park 1960s
Top of the Ferris Wheel View looking at the Terrace
Giant Slide at Night 1967
Bottom of the Giant Slide (aka "Sack Slide")
Looking up the Pier (Shore Dinner Hall on the left)
Carousel Crew from the late 1960s
Midway with Scrambler and Tilt-A-Whirl in Background
Sky Rider 1960s
Sky Rider 1969
Comet Coaster (last coaster at the park)
Shore Dinner Hall Staff
Shore Dinner Hall Kitchen
Midway in the 1960s
Alhambra Ballroom - What a dance floor!!
Colonade Lounge at Crescent Park 1960s
Aerial View of Crescent Park 1960s
1970-1979
Alhambra, Midway & Shore Dinner Hall Fires (Photos courtesy of Riverside's own: CHARLIE HALL)
Please do not copy or share these photos without Mr. Hall's permission.
The most popular ride at Crescent Park in the 1960s and 1970s: THE FLYING FISH
Riders descending in the FLYING FISH (a wild-mouse type coaster)
Another Flying Fish Photo
Vic "The Boss" in the Kiddie Land
Jingles the Clown (George Richards) and Vic "The Boss"
Inside the game room of Fascination looking across at the Penny Arcade
The Bullocks Point Village Apartments being built across from Kiddie Land
Cookout at the Crescent Park Stage (across from the Shore Dinner Hall)
Cookout at the Stage
Shore Dinner Hall Crew Members
Ticket Booth
Fascination Game Caller
The Swamp at Crescent Park
Shore Dinner Hall from the Beach
Sippy Ramos in the Penny Arcade
Dodgem on the Midway
Ring Toss Clown in the Carousel with the famous "Camel" in front
River Boat Ride (aka "Riding Dark House")
River Boat Ride
Western Hotel (aka "The Walk-In Dark House")
Native American scene as viewed from the Train ride or the Westward Ho ride
Crescent Park R.R. Train
The Great ALHAMBRA BALLROOM goes up in Flames
Fire Trucks arriving for Midway Fire in 1980s
EPFD Firefighters Battling Midway Fire
Midway Fire
Midway Fire with Firefighter battling the blaze
Shore Dinner Hall Fire
Shore Dinner Hall Fire
Midway Fire
Shore Dinner Hall Fire
Shore Dinner Hall Fire
What an Inferno
Shore Dinner Hall fully engulfed
Shore Dinner Hall Ablaze
1980-Present Day
Sad Day: 1979 Crescent Park Closed
1979 Crescent Park Closed
Carousel Closed in 1980
The remains of the Sky Rider stands silent in a closed Crescent Park
Dodgem Cas Sit in Ruins 1980s
The Comet Coaster sits in ruins - Early 1980s
The Turbo and Silo site idle as the park was closed by the time of this photo: 1980
A closed midway in the early 1980s (just before the midway fire)
1980 - Park Closed - Rear of Skating Rink, Penny Arcade, Go-Kart Track, & Carousel
Rider reaches for the Brass Ring at the Crescent Park Carousel 1999
Looff's Gorgeous Centerpiece of Our Great Carousel
Governor & Mrs. Almond Ride the Carousel in the 1990s
Britney & Allison ride one of the Carousel Chariots in 2000
On the National Historic Register - The Looff Carousel at Crescent Park at Twilight (2013)