The Hotel Del Otero's entrance has a wooden sign overhead, in addition to a sign on each side, one advertising special dinners and dancing, A.F. King, Proprietor, and the flag is flying from the tour seen through the trees.
Trees along the shoreline lean toward the calm water of what appears to be Deephaven Bay, postmarked and dated 1910. This is one of the most common postcard views on Lake Minnetonka.
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 map of Lake Minnetonka shows the streetcar and the streetcar boat lines and stops, from Groveland in the east to Zumbra Heights in the west. Streetcar stops on the south side of the Lake are Birch Bluff, Excelsior, Christmas Lake, Vine Hill, Pergatory and Glen Lake. Streetcar stops on the east side of the Lake are Deephaven, Northome, Breezy Point, and Groveland. Lake Minnetonka is 20 miles long and four miles wide with a charmingly irregular shore line of over 300 miles. V.O. Hammon trademark is printed on back, postmarked 1909.
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.
The Como was one of the streetcar steamboats on Lake Minnetonka. Message says the writer took the Como from the hotel to the island, and that the fishing is so good in this lake that it is not unusual to catch 100 pounds of bass in three hours, postmarked and dated 1907.
Steamer Minnehaha plying the waters of Lake Minnetonka, with flags flying, and passengers both inside on the lower deck, and outside on the upper deck, postmarked 1907. Writer describes watching the Chicago Cubs beat Brooklyn 4-3 in Chicago: score at the end of 8th favored Chicago 3-0, end of 9th--3-3, end of 10th--3-3, end of 11th--4-3. "Great doings."
This view from the lake of the Hotel Bartlett shows that it sits on a hill overlooking its dock and tiny boathouse. Boats for rent line the shore, postmarked 1910.
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."
The aerial view shows the three-story hotel with its four-story octagonal tower and many porches, its water tower and wooded grounds, and the railroad tracks behind the hotel.
Front view shows porch along the entire first floor of this four-story building, with young trees on the front lawn, Henry Schomberg, Proprietor, postmarked 1906.
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.
The interior view of this lovely porch, The Lattice Room, shows the white furniture and flowering vines, color added. Printed message states that this Inn, 17 miles west of Minneapolis, is owned and operated by Hotel Radisson Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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.
This long three-story wooden building in its shaded setting provides a porch along its entire first floor, and a tower that climbs to four stories giving additional views of Lake Minnetonka. This postcard was printed as an advertisement. The message announces that fancy balls, dancing parties, musicales and concerts, banquets, conventions, yacht races, and rowing regattas are of frequent occurrence at Tonka Bay, and it is only two miles from Big Island with its 65-acre park .
The wooden three-story Sampson House on a street corner in Excelsior advertises offerings at its caf??, including fried chicken and fish dinners, crappie dinners, fried chicken sandwiches and homemade ice cream for 15 cents.
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.
View of Excelsior from Lake Minnetonka shows a paddlewheel boat at the dock, and several buildings, including the Blue Line, the White House Hotel, and the casino.
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.
Private garden contains a pond with a bridge to a tiny island. Thatch-roofed structure on the island provides peaceful seclusion. Message is written in German, postmarked Minnetonka Beach, 1909.
This steamboat seems to have stopped at a dock at the Narrows. This was the scene before the bridge was built across the Narrows. The north side of this channel is in the town of Orono, and the south side is in Tonka Bay. Printed message gives description of Lake Minnetonka, postmarked and dated 1918.
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.
This photo, with color added, depicts visitors in the doorway of the Glen Morris Inn, viewing Lake Minnetonka and the sailboat at the dock. Message mentions the "artistic places," the warm swimming in the lake, and crackling fires, postmarked 1915.
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.
View of Casco Point from Lake Minnetonka shows two boat houses at the shore, and homes hiding in the trees at the top of the hill. Space for message is on front of card, postmarked 1906.
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.
Woolnough's Maple Heights Inn and cottages sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Minnetonka, with a long staircase leading from a gazebo to the shore, post office address: Woolnough, Minnesota.
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.
The Puritan docks at Excelsior Landing in front of The Blue Line, with the White House Hotel on the hill behind the caf??. The message on back in Norwegian lists meal for $2.00 and is postmarked 1910.
Bridge crossed the dry creek bed of Minnehaha Creek after a long dry spell. Writer watched for President Taft to cross the bridge in an auto during his visit to Minneapolis, but missed seeing him, dated November 12, 1909.
The Buena Vista Hotel sits on a hill above its dock and boathouse which advertises boats, bait and tackle, in the neighborhood called the Highlands, postmarked 1901.
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.
Color added to this view of Swift Point in Cottagewood (Deephaven) from Katahdin Point. This could be the Lucian Swift home, owner or the old Minneapolis Journal.
Three-decked steamer St. Paul steams across Lake Minnetonka with its flags flying, and its side-wheels working, carrying many passengers, color added, dated and postmarked 1908.
This express steamboat "White Bear" has just passed under the new steel bridge at the Narrows. Its advertising sign says it is an express for Zumbra; this channel connects the Upper Lake to the Lower Lake of Lake Minnetonka; the bridge connects Orono and Tonka Bay, postmarked 1916.
Visitors enjoy the shade in a grove of trees at Big Island Park, color added. Card is addressed to Hoke Smith, United States Senate, Washington, D.C., postmarked 1913. Message reads: Lithography is the working man's art. Don???t destroy American Art! Help us develop American art! Why not lithograph these in Amerika? More of these cards than ever are being lithographed abroad! I receive 25 dolls per week as a lithographer. Please don't cut this down. German lithographers get only one third of the wages Americans do.
Divided driveway curves toward entrance of the Lafayette Club is lined with flowering gardens and flowering trees, color added; publishing company logos is printed on the back.
Visitors stand in front of the first floor screened porch of the Hotel Edgewood, postmarked 1920. Edgewood was in Shorewood, on the south side of Upper Lake facing Spring Park.
Photo of the pavilion or waiting station for the Twin City Rapid Transit Company (T.C.R.T.) streetcar stop in Excelsior, Minnesota, with color added, is postmarked 1910.
The Radisson Inn had screened porches on the first floor, and open balconies on the second floor. Originally the Glenn Morris Estate, it was remodeled by the owner of the downtown Radisson Hotel in the 1920s. Located on Highway 7 and Christmas Lake, it burned in the 1930s.
J.H. Woolnough was the proprietor of the Maple Heights Inn, North Shore Park, Island Park, on Lake Minnetonka; the three story structure sits on a hill overlooking the lake, with steps down to the shore and a boathouse, dated 1905.
Janette Merrill Park adjoins a two-story clapboard cottage with screened porches on both the first and second floors facing Lake Minnetonka. The message from a visitor to the cottage talks of swimming and hiking, postmarked 1925.
This popular postcard depicts a fisherman on shore hooking a mythical giant fish, the epitome of the fish that got away, called the freak fish design. This card advertises Spring Park, Minnesota. The message, dated 1912, mentions a picnic held by the Maccabee Lodge of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which included 26 athletic stunts for which the winners received prizes.
View from the hillside in front of the St. Louis Hotel faces the Ice Yacht Club and the Minnetonka Yacht Club in St. Louis Bay on Lake Minnetonka, postmarked 1908.