Union Park Ruins (Dubuque, Iowa)

Ruined building foundations, sidewalks, swimming pool, fish pond and water reservoir from Victorian amusement park. Union Park was created by the Union Electric company in the early 1900's as a means of promoting electricity to Dubuque citizens. Electric trolley service was the primary means of accessing the park. In 1919, a flash flood ripped through the park destroying property and killing several people. The park rebuilt and reopened, but could not survive changing times. The growing popularity of the automobile led to trolley ridership to fall, and the opening of the Dubuque-situated Eagle Point Park created strong competition. As the Great Depression reached its height in the 1934, Union Park closed for good. The park was subsequently dismantled and its assets sold off. Today, there are only ruins and traces of the once-glorious park - a hauntingly beautiful piece of Dubuque history.
www.encyclopediadubuque.org/index.php?title=UNION_PARK