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A Tour of Riverview Park
1904 -1967
1904 -1967
Riverview Park was a favorite summertime destination for Chicago children and their families. Although it was a long trip
from the Southeast Side to Riverview, it was a rewarding journey on a warm summer day; an event to be savored over
the cold winter. Let's make a nostalgic visit.
Riverview Park was located at the northwest corner of Western Ave. and Belmont Ave. on Chicago's Northwest Side. When Riverview opened on July 2, 1904, it was the world's largest amusement park. Located on 74 acres, the west side of the park was bounded by the North Branch of the Chicago River. To the north stood the campus of Lane Tech High School. The former grounds are now home to Riverview Plaza shopping center, the Belmont District Police Station, DeVry University, a manufacturing company and Richard Clark Park, part of the Chicago Park District. The south end of Clark Park has a wooded area where many of the Riverview Park foundations are still visible and is currently used as a bicycle dirt jump and pump track park maintained by the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers. A sculpture entitled Riverview by local artist Jerry Peart stands in front of the police station.
Riverview Park was located at the northwest corner of Western Ave. and Belmont Ave. on Chicago's Northwest Side. When Riverview opened on July 2, 1904, it was the world's largest amusement park. Located on 74 acres, the west side of the park was bounded by the North Branch of the Chicago River. To the north stood the campus of Lane Tech High School. The former grounds are now home to Riverview Plaza shopping center, the Belmont District Police Station, DeVry University, a manufacturing company and Richard Clark Park, part of the Chicago Park District. The south end of Clark Park has a wooded area where many of the Riverview Park foundations are still visible and is currently used as a bicycle dirt jump and pump track park maintained by the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers. A sculpture entitled Riverview by local artist Jerry Peart stands in front of the police station.
The Main
Entrance
This early postcard view from the
North
Branch of the Chicago River features a
building which housed a Civil War
exhibit called the "Battle of the Monitor
and Merrimac."
Branch of the Chicago River features a
building which housed a Civil War
exhibit called the "Battle of the Monitor
and Merrimac."
The entrance to the Silver Flash,
one of Riverview's nine roller
coasters.
Below: The Silver Flash climbs the
first hill.
The Pair-O-Chutes dropped
you from a 212-foot tower,
which was a North Side
landmark.
The Bobs was Riverview's
most famous roller coaster.
In this view, Train 2 rounds
the low curve on the
riverwalk.
An old postcard scene of
Shoot the Chutes.
Aladdin's Castle was a favorite
of Riverview visitors with its
hall of mirrors, rolling barrel,
and the Magic Carpet.
The carousel or merry-go-round was
installed in 1906. It featured 70 hand
painted horses and four 11-foot high
lover's chariots.
Another postcard view of Riverview shows the
Riverwalk with the the Chute-the-Shoots, the
Carousel, and the Flying Turns.
A portion of the front dust cover from
the book Riverview, Gone But Not
Forgotten 1904-1967. This photo
history by Chuck Wlodarczyk was
originally published in 1977and is no
longer in print. Two more recent
books have since
been published: Riverview Amusement Park (2004) available from Amazon.com and Laugh Your Troubles Away (2008) available from Sharpshooter's Productions.
been published: Riverview Amusement Park (2004) available from Amazon.com and Laugh Your Troubles Away (2008) available from Sharpshooter's Productions.