I love sites like this and I’ve been seeing more and more of them online. This is a collection of historic postcards and scanned memorabilia such as menus and matchbook covers many dating back to 1900. In this case the site specializes in Alameda, California with some Oakland stuff too. It’s a gold mine for local historians and just plain fun. You get to see how very quaint and charming California actually once was.
Neptune Beach
There is an excellent account (in postcards) of the once famous Neptune Beach. This was a resort and amusement park similar to the fabulous Playland at the Beach in San Francisco and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Santa Cruz is the only one left of the three. One curiosity you never see anymore is a high diving platform that the public pool once had. Neptune Beach was shut down just before WWII. A fascinating history can be found here. Not seen in any of the poastcards is a huge roller coaster called the “Whoopie.”
Southern Pacific Train Station, Oakland
