Meet the Collection – A Look at the History of Lakeside Amusement Park and Manhattan Beach with David Forsyth
March 31 @ 1:00 pm
Free with museum admission
Join Dr. David Forsyth for a deep dive into the history of two of Denver’s amusement parks: Lakeside Amusement Park and Manhattan Beach.
Forsyth, a historian and museum professional, has authored several books and articles on local history including Denver’s Lakeside Amusement Park: From the White City Beautiful to a Century of Fun (2016), which was named the best look at a historic institution by Westword in 2017, and The Amusement Park at Sloan’s Lake: The Lost History of Denver’s Manhattan Beach (2024).
In 1890, a new summer resort opened on the shore of Sloan’s Lake that would eventually become Manhattan Beach. Until its closure in 1914, the park served as the first true amusement park in Denver with the city’s first roller coaster and merry-go-round. Lakeside Amusement Park has been an integral part of summer fun for Coloradans since its opening day on May 30, 1908. Developers created the park as part of a movement to beautify the city of Denver.
In his research, Forsyth used various primary and secondary sources, including materials from the History Colorado Collection. Sign up today to attend this Q&A with the author about the history of the parks, his research process, and view some archival materials related to the parks.
