This image is an underwater view of ducks as they swim along the surface of Aquarena Springs, with several ducks in various stages of diving down to feed.
The description states:
AQUARENA, SAN MARCOS TEXAS
Comical and colorful diving ducks.
–From the color of the duck’s heads seen diving in this picture, it appears that the duck are primarily mallards.
This card was used and is dated 3 July 1962.
Tag: used
Aquarena Clown Diver, San Marcos, Texas
This image shows one of the underwater performers that entertained visitors to the Aquarena Springs theme park during the middle of the 20th century. Dressed as a clown, the swimmer is able to breathe through the use of the air tube held in the mouth.
The description states:
AQUARENA, SAN MARCOS, TEXAS
GLURPO AQUARENA’S FAMOUS AQUATIC CLOWN, who performs his acts under-water. Thrilling under-water shows are presented by the world’s only submarine theatre at this attraction every day of the year (except Christmas Day).
–The underwater theater is closed now that the Springs are a conservation area. This card was used and is dated 3 July 1962.
Aquarena Gift Shop, San Marcos, Texas
This is an overview of the gift shop serving the attraction known as Aquarena. It is part of the larger theme park of the time known as Aquarena Springs.
The description states:
AQUARENA, San Marcos, Texas. Interior view of Aquarena’s famous Souvenir Shop. This is one of the Southwest’s most outstanding tourist shops and is unsurpassed in architectural beauty.
-The shop served the larger theme park, which was closed in the 1980s when the area was converted into a conservation site and program.
This card was used and is dated 3 July 1962.
Little Sur River and Lagoon
This image shows the mouth of the Little Sur River as it enters the Pacific Ocean. It drains the Los Padres National Forest, which contains many examples of endangered species and stands of old-growth redwood trees.
The description states:
LITTLE SUR RIVER AND LAGOON
State Hwy #1 on the Monterey Scenic Coast
–The Big Sur region, parks, Little Sur river and adjacent areas are located in the southern end of Monterey County. This lagoon changes form with the seasons, as the river’s flow increases or decreases with the winter rains.
This card was used and is dated 6 July 1955.
Bixby Creek Bridge, California
Undoubtedly the most popular bridge in the world for automobile advertisements, the Bixby Creek bridge is the longest of many bridges across the canyons that cut into the California coastline along the route of California State Highway 1.
The description states:
BIXBY BRIDGE
This graceful structure spans the creek of the same name on Highway #1 on the Monterey Coast.
–The bridge was built in 1932, and continues to be one of the tallest concrete arch bridges in the world. This postcard was used and is dated 6 July 1955.
Rocky Cliff Edges of the Pacific Coast Highway, California
This image shows more clearly the height of the road above the ocean, and the sheer drop from the road edge to the water. The thin grey line at the upper right of the image is a portion of the guard rail for the outer lane of the road. This railing is not present continuously, however.
The description on this card is the same as the previous posting:
CALIFORNIA’S SCENIC STATE HIGHWAY NO. 1
This picturesque highway is safe to drive, though for over 66 miles there isn’t a straight or level stretch of road more than 100 yards long.
–This is a common condition along the highway both south of Carmel, California, and north of Bodega Bay, where the road is at the cliff edge for many miles.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
California Pacific Coast Highway Scene
This image shows a view of the Pacific Coast Highway from a vantage point along the road. Since the coastline is on the left, this is a south-looking view.
The description states:
CALIFORNIA’S SCENIC STATE HIGHWAY NO. 1
This picturesque highway is safe to drive, though for over 66 miles there isn’t a straight or level stretch of road more than 100 yards long.
–This condition of the road as described above was a result of having built this section along the cliff edges that descend directly into the ocean. At times there are drops of several hundred feet from the road edge, which is only a few feet from the lane of traffic and often without guard rails.
This card was used and is dated 27 June 1955.
Highway 1, California
This is an image of the world famous Pacific Coast Highway, which winds along the shoreline of California for most of the state’s length. As a result, the scenery of the coastal hills, forests and ocean are experienced almost non-stop.
The description states:
CALIFORNIA COAST HIGHWAY 1
Rugged shoreline in the Lime Kiln area south of Carmel and Big Sur.
–The Lime Kiln State Park is along the central California coast, south of the population center of the Monterey Bay, and even south of the state park at Big Sur. It is 56 miles south of Carmel, and 2 miles south of Lucia.
This card was used and is dated 14 June 1979.
Will Rogers Museum and Tomb, Claremore, Oklahoma
This card is an artist’s illustration of the Will Rogers memorial complex in Claremore, Oklahoma, where the man is buried and a museum is open to the public. The museum was built in 1938, three years after his death.
There is no description on the back of this card. The basic facility has not changed over the years, and even the landscaping is still very similar. This card was used and is dated 11 November 1954.
Hotel Mason, Claremore, Oklahoma
This illustration is of the Hotel Mason, an establishment that, at the time of this card, hosted the largest unique gun collection in private hands.
The description states:
MASON HOTEL – CLAREMORE, OKLA.
The home of the largest gun collection of its kind, in the world. No two guns alike.
–The hotel was built in 1910, closed in 1974 and was demolished in 1986. The gun collection was moved to a dedicated museum.
This card was used and is dated 3 July 1953, though the cars illustrated indicate the image was created in the late 1940s.