Natatorium Park

2018 marks the 50th anniversary since Natatorium Park closed, and the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is throwing a gala tonight to commemorate the jubilee.

Section:Gallery

Sat., Aug. 25, 2018

In 1941 the amusement rides at Natatorium Park were in full swing. The park, which opened in 1893, was originally known as Twickenham Park, and was operated by Spokane United Railways until 1929 when it was sold to Louis Vogel. The park closed in 1968.

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Thousands visited Natatorium Park for thrills and amusement in the early 1900s. The park closed in the 1960s.

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The Natatorium Park and fountain in 1928.

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Natatorium Park in 1929.

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Undated aerial photo of Natatorium Park.

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The carrousel waas built by German woodcarver Charles I.D. Looff in the early 1900's. He sent it to Spokane as a wedding present to his daughter and louis Vogel, who ran Natatorium Park for many years. The carrousel began operating in Nat Park in 1909. When the park closed in 1968 the city of Spokane purchased the carrousel and put it in storage. It was moved to Riverfront Park in 1975. Photo taken in 1930.

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Natatorium Park in 1931

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An undated photo from the Looff Carrousel when it was one of the major attractions in Natatorium Park.

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Natatorium Park in 1933.

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Children ride the Joy Wheel in 1935 at Natatorium Park.

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Undated Natatorium Park night scene.

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Picnic at Natatorium park in 1939.
1890s-The baseball grounds were built at Natatorium Park in west-central Spokane, which was owned by the Washington Water Power Company. The grandstand seated 3,000 people.

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Natatorium Park in 1941.

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Children enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep their balance on the Joy Wheel, a popular attraction at Spokane's Natatorium Park. The floor rotated on a large wheel in the center. The park opened in 1889 as Twickenham Park and later was renamed Natatorium Park. It closed in 1968. This photo was taken in the 1940's.

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Natatorium Park in 1941.

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Natatorium Park in 1941.

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Undated photo at Natatorium Park.

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Natatorium Park Lilokums in 1941.

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State Patrolmen R.F. Rasmussen of Rosalia and Ken Miller of Colfax obviously are enjoying giving "ticket" to 12 year old Larry Eastep of Thornton in 1958. Such scenes were frequent this morning at Natatorium park as more than 2,000 youngsters, members of the school safety patrols from throughout the area, gathered for their annual picnic sponsored by city, county and state law enforcement agencies.

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Two kids were at the Fun-In-The-Dark ride in Natatorium Park in 1941.

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Patrons of the Tilakums in Natatorium Park in 1941.

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Natatorium Park in 1941.

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Bumper Cars in Natatorium Park Tilakums in 1941.

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Natatorium Park Nut House-Tillikum Park in 1941.

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Natatorium Park in Tillikum, people lined up to enter in 1942.

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Natatorium Park in 1926.

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Natatorium Park, sailor in a go-kart in 1943.

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Natatorium Park in 1943

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Tilakums at the Natatorium Park Ballroom in 1943.

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People enjoy the roller coaster at Nat Park in 1949.

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Boys enjoying the ride at Natatorium Park in 1950.

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Youngsters having the time of their life at the Natatorium Park in 1957.

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Here at Natatorium Park in March of 1958, owner Lloyd Vogel stood beside the race car ride which was about to be enjoyed by Ray Flaherty and his son Flipper. Natatorium park, located beside the Spokane River in northwest Spokane, was a fixture throughout the early 1900's, its heyday in the 1920's. Countless families came to Nat Park to be entertained by roller coasters, music, a swimming pool, even a sea lion attraction. It closed in the 1960's, and the land is now occupied by a mobile home park. Nat Park's owner, Lloyd Vogel, died in 1965. Photo Archives/The Spokesman-Review Historic.

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"Scoot-a-car" vehicles bumped along with junior dealers for The Spokesman-Review at the helm yesterday in Natatorium park. About 400 boys who deliver the newspaper took part in day-long activities which included games, the free rides and a picnic lunch in 1958. The day was capped with a movie in a downtown theater last night. Boys with superior records on their routes were awarded the outings.

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Eager youngsters from St. Joseph's Children home, Hutton settlement and Washington Children's home were among hundreds of children who romped through Natatorium park at the annual Chronicle Tilakum picnic in 1959. In picture at left, Sister Geralda and Sister Kathleen of St. Joseph's approve the tickets of three of their charges, left to right, 7; Phyllis, 11, and Lavinia, 8.

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Attendees Riding a Roller Coaster at Natatorium Park, Tilakums in 1962.

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A doctor of musical instruments Frank J Ulijohn, uses stethoscope to air power of organ from famous Natatorium Park carrousel in 1963.

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Smoke instead of fun and laughter greeted photographers who visited at Natatorium Park in 1968. The old amusement park is being demolished and equipment sold.

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Natatorium Park in 1968.
1968 aerial view of Natatorium Park before all the buildings were torn down for Home Park.

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