The Denver City Park,  which consists of 330 acres on the west side of Denver, was built in 1882. In 1896 the  Denver Zoo  started in the Park with one eagle and one bear. While it was growing, the Denver Nature and Science Museum opened in 1908. Use of the park now includes gardens, lakes, fountains, ponds, boat and bike rentals,  mountain vistas, pathways, soccer fields, playgrounds, a 5K running track and 14 greenhouses, which supply flowers and plants to the city’s other 100 plus parks. Average annual attendance is three million. The first photo is dated ca.1905 and the third is dated 1910. People motored in the park as well, as seen in the last photo.

The Boston Common (no s) is the oldest city park in the U.S. It began in 1634 and was first used more as a cow pasture than as a city park. It was later occupied by British troops during the Revolution. It then became the center of political activity, protests, and rallies as well as recreation.  Many pathways, monuments, and fountains are scattered throughout its 50 acres. In 1895 the first subway in the U.S. was opened adjacent to the Common. The first station on Tremont St. is still there, as is the second on Park St. seen here in the first, undated photo. The third photo shows Frog Pond in 1919 and the fifth shows the famous swan boats in the 1920s.

Eden Park started out as 12 acres of donated land in Cincinnati in 1869 and now comprises 186 acres offering numerous activities and spectacular views of the Ohio River. The first photo shows the main gate in 1904. The third is  the main drive in 1921, while the fourth photo is undated and shows the band shell. Following that is an undated photo of the 1894 water tower, then a photo of the iconic Spring House in 1904. The latter structure is featured prominently in the newly released true crime book The Ghosts of Eden Park. For more photos and a virtual tour of the Park, go to cincinnativiews.net/parks.

The Palace of Fine Arts is located in the Marina District of San Francisco. It was built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exposition–a world’s fair to celebrate completion of the Panama Canal and showcase San Francisco’s progress since the 1906 earthquake. Originally built to display art, from 1934 through 1942, it housed 18 tennis courts and, during WWII, was used to store jeeps and trucks. The first photo shows a bird’s eye view of the fair, with the original Palace in the lower right corner of the picture. The second photo is a panorama of the Palace in 1919.

The Palace was the only building not torn down after the Fair was over, at least until 1964 that is. After 49 years the “temporary” building was considered unsafe and was demolished. The replacement structure is an exact duplicate of the original. To take a walking tour of the Exposition and see many great photographs, go to the National Park Service’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition site (nps.gov.goga/learn/history/culture/ppie-the exposition.htm).

Patterson Park is located in Baltimore MD. It began as six acres of land donated in 1827 and now comprises 137. The Park’s high ground was the site of a major battle in the War of 1812. An observatory in the form of a pagoda was built in 1891 and remains a major attraction. The Boat Lake was created when a military installation was removed  in 1864, towards the end of the Civil War. The first photo shows Boat Lake in 1890. The third photo shows visitors on the Pagoda steps in 1893.

The Chicago Theater is located on north State St. in Chicago. It was built in 1921 at a cost of four million dollars (fifty-six million today). It has 3,880 seats and was the first movie palace, a prototype for all the ones to follow. It was also one of the first  to use air conditioning. The first photo is dated 1921. The third photo showing the interior is credited to Dave DiCello. (Click to enlarge.)

The Rialto Square Theater opened in 1926 at a cost of two million dollars (twenty-six million today). It is located in Joliet IL, near Chicago, and very near in appearance to the Chicago Theater. Vaudeville was originally the main attraction, followed by movies until the 1970s. Saved from demolition in 1980, it was renovated and continues now as a performing arts center.The first photo is undated.

Grauman’s is located on the famous Walk of Fame in Hollywood. It opened in 1927. In 2013 it partnered with IMAX and underwent extensive renovation. It now has 932 seats and one of the largest movie screens in North America. The first photo is undated.

Located in Jersey City, NJ, Lowes Jersey Theater opened in 1929 (ninety years ago this month) at a cost of two million dollars (twenty-five million today). It has 3,021 seats and not only hosted movie goers but presented live performances as well. It closed in 1986 and was threatened with demolition. After 10 years the building was  acquired by the City of Jersey City. Current shows include classic movie weekends, operas, live bands, corporate events, and weddings. The first photo is dated 1030.

The Palace Albany Theater is located in Albany, NY . It opened in 1931 with 2,844 seats and closed in 1969. It was purchased by the City of Albany and underwent a three-million-dollar renovation in 2002. The theater now hosts about 150 events per year, much like the Lowes Jersey Theater. The first photo is dated 1951.