Formal flower gardens at Highcroft overlook Lake Minnetonka. This was the home of the Peavey grain milling family in Ferndale. House was razed in the early 1950s.
This rectangular building with a wall of windows on all four sides was located next to the Hotel Del Otero, on the shore of Lake Minnetonka in Spring Park, postmarked 1909.
The Pleasure Park at the Hotel Del Otero includes tennis court and croquet lawn, as well as swings and benches, color added, postmarked 1910. The printed message reads: Minnetonka is a Sioux word for "big waters;" here was the scene of Hiawatha's wooing, and out of the lake flows the stream on which is located the beautiful falls of Minnehaha--"laughing water"--made famous by Longfellow.
This view from the porch of the Excelsior casino shows patrons in hats, both female and male. The message describes the view of Lake Minnetonka as "simply fine."
This interview view of the Excelsior Amusement Park convention and picnic auditorium shows the curved roof of the room and a gathering, some people seated at benches and some at picnic tables. The printed message describes the park as "the family playground that's clean and wholesome. Ideal for church and school picnics."
In this view from the lake, the two-story casino in Spring Park has second-floor screened porches facing the lake and a walk way through an arbor, shaded by climbing vines, to the dock, dated and postmarked 1911.
Collage of Minneapolis photographs includes Regatta Day on Lake Minnetonka, Court House and City Hall, Boulevard at Lake Calhoun, Loring Park, St. Louis Bay on Lake Minnetonka, Library at State University, Flour Mill District, Minnehaha Falls, and St. Anthony Falls and Exposition Building, dated 1906.
Sleeping room at the Hotel Del Otero includes two beds, a dressing table and stool, two chairs, a patterned rug covering all but the edges of the wooden floor, and two large windows.
Reception parlor, filled with rocking chairs in rattan and wood and rugs with Native American designs, welcomes Hotel Del Otero guests for their stay at Lake Minnetonka, color added. The message says it was too cool to swim in the evening, postmarked July 2, 1913.
Lyman Lodge hosted the Minneapolis YWCA camp on Lake Minnetonka. A sidewalk brings campers from the lake shore Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad tracks up to the lodge. Camp activities included archery and swimming, postmarked 1940.
Music Director Albert Franko Demkier's music program for the Hotel Del Otero lists musical selections and composers: Summertime by H. Von Tilzer, How would you like to try a honeymoon with me? by O. Wade, Dear old East side, by Gus. Edwards, Merry-go round by Gus. Edwards, Bye-Bye, Dear Old Broadway by Gus. Edwards, Pandora by Victor Maurice, Love-Land by Holzman, Over the hills and far away by Schwartz for luncheon from 12:30 to 1, and The Chorus Lady by Kingsbury, Ev'rybody loves me, but the one I love by G. Edwards, Hermosillo by Schuh, Up in my balloon by Wenrich, Lady! Lady! by Leighton, The Grand Mogul by Luders, See Saw by Gus. Edwards, Consolation by Line and Sympathy by Kendis for dinner 6:30 to 8; card writer from Louisiana talks about wearing coats all the time because it is so cool, postmarked August 12, 1910.
This Interior view of the Excelsior Park ballroom shows a few couples on the shiny, wooden dance floor, a band on the band stand, and a wall of windows facing Lake Minnetonka.
This photo of Highcroft, the residence of the Peavey family, highlights the flower gardens on the grounds of the three-story home with several additions and porches, color added.
The Degree of Honor Summer Camp's recreation hall floor is marked with lines for games. There is a stage at the far end of the room, a piano, and plenty of wicker and wooden chairs.
According to the card's caption, boaters are negotiating the channel between Lower Lake and Crystal Bay on Lake Minnetonka, color added, postmarked and dated 1908. This photo does not match the actual geography at the described location.
Curved drive to the entrance of the Lafayette Club shows the canopy leading to the front door, and the one-story white arches of the front fa??ade, postmarked 1965.
The Degree of Honor Summer Camp was located on Casco Point in Orono on Lake Minnetonka. Some of the women are dressed for swimming, and the men are in boats at the dock, postmarked 1930.
In the center of this lakeside picnic area is a barbecue in the shape of a miniature lighthouse in brick, built by WPA in the mid1930s. It is surrounded by cement picnic tables and benches. Mound Pavilion offers coffee, ice cream and candy.
Visitors to Big Island Park arrive and depart on steamboats such as the Saint Paul. Message describes white water lilies and mosquitoes, color added, postmarked 1909.
Wooden boats are pulled ashore and picnic baskets appear in this generic beach scene, with a black and white inset photo labeled Steamer Excelsior, Minnetonka. The writer mentions the large number of advertisements in the paper for fine horses for sale. The Bureau of Engraving's logos is printed on back, color added, postmarked 1910.
The Old Orchard estate was in Tonka Bay on Crescent Beach facing west on the Upper Lake. The large house has an adjacent three-story tower for viewing the lake. Its adjacent peristyle includes vine-covered columns and benches, color added for the border, postmarked and dated 1908.