Memories of Idlewild Park - 2019 Historic Photography Show

This is a virtual tour of "MEMORIES OF IDLEWILD PARK," the 18th annual Historic Photography Show hosted by the Pennsylvania Room at the Ligonier Valley Library in Ligonier, Pennsylvania from April 16 through July 9, 2019.

The 2019 Historic Photography Show celebrated the history of Idlewild and SoakZone, a much beloved amusement park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Idlewild has charmed people across Western Pennsylvania and beyond since its origins as a 19th century picnic grove for the Ligonier Valley Rail Road. The Historic Photography Show showed how the Mellon family’s scenic picnic grounds evolved into a traditional amusement park in the 20th century and how Idlewild continues to delight generations as an award-winning family attraction today. Established in 1878, Idlewild and SoakZone is recognized as the oldest operating amusement park in Pennsylvania and the third oldest in the United States.

Local historian and author Jennifer Sopko guest curated the show, bringing together a fascinating collection of photographs and memorabilia discovered during the research for her 2018 book "Idlewild: History and Memories of Pennsylvania’s Oldest Amusement Park."

According to the Ligonier Valley Library, "The mission of the Historic Photography Show (as well as the smaller shows held throughout the year) is to present a facet of Ligonier Valley history that is interesting, educational and may have been overlooked in the past. In addition, the photographs and documents copied become a permanent part of the Pennsylvania Room collection." Please visit the Ligonier Valley Library at 120 West Main Street, Ligonier, PA 15658 to view past shows and explore the Pennsylvania Room's vast collection of books and materials. More information can be found at www.ligonierlibrary.org.

MANY THANKS to the Ligonier Valley Library, Pennsylvania Room Archivist Shirley McQuillis Iscrupe, the 2019 Historic Photography Committee, Idlewild and SoakZone and the many people who generously loaned photographs and items for "MEMORIES OF IDLEWILD PARK." Thank you all for supporting and preserving a wonderful part of Ligonier Valley, Pennsylvania and amusement park history!

THANK YOU to Tara Ewanits for video editing assistance!

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