Items

• Elevators and Viaduct at Weehawken NJ

  An advertisement from the Passaic Steel Company showing a photograph of the Weehawken Passenger Elevators and Viaduct, listing the length and height of the structure. The gigantic elevator was designed by by civil engineer Thomas E. Brown Jr. based on specifications by Edward A. Trapp, engineer of the North Hudson Railway Company. Completed in 1891, the complex opened in 1892, providing easy transportation for New Yorkers wishing to attend the Eldorado Amusement Park or to go by rail to the Guttenberg Racetrack.
• The Weehawken Elevators and Viaduct

  Technical article from the Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers Volume 27, Issue 2 (1892) describing the design and construction of the massive elevator which brought passengers up from the waterfront to the top of the Palisades and thence on to the Eldorado pleasure garden. Retrieved from the Internet Archive
• Video - The Weehawken Passenger Elevator

  A brief video describing the amazing huge passenger elevator which connected the Weehawken waterfront and ferries to upper Weehawken, the Eldorado amusement park, and the North Hudson Railway Company. Unfortunately, this video repeats the myth that Gustave Eiffel (he of Tower fame) designed the elevator. The elevator was actually designed by civil engineer Thomas E Brown Jr. based on specifications by Edward A. Trapp, engineer of the North Hudson Railroad Company. (Thanks to Desiree Palma Sosa for sending in the link)
• Weehawken Griffin

  Three photographs, taken in 1979, one black and white, two in color. This zinc griffin, manufactured by the J. W. Fiske Company, used to perch on top of the rounded stone pier at the corner of Eldorado Place and Boulevard East. It is thought to have been a remnant of a possible pair from the entrance to the Eldorado Amusement Park, but we have no documentation to support this theory. It does appear in a photograph from the Eldorado Realty Company Prospectus, which is dated about 1900. The griffin sold for $7,800 at a Christie's auction in 2006. The new owner has a blog about her passion for collecting zinc statuary. Although much of the information she has about the statue is incorrect, there is a very clear photograph of the Weehawken griffin. See external link below for url. These photos were taken by Zack Gaulkin.
• Auction Prospectus - Highwood Park

  This is a copy of an Auction Prospectus for 293 choice lots in Highwood Park adjoining Eldorado Station in Weehawken Heights, NJ. The auction was to take place on Wednesday, May 30, 1894 at noon and was conducted by James L. Wells, Auctioneer of 59 Liberty Street. The 8 page document includes many maps and engravings. Unfortunately, this is a poor quality photocopy. This item is in the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission.
• 1895 Sales Flyer for Eldorado Lots

  Advertisement for the "closing out sale" of "101 choice lots in Highwood Park adjoining Eldorado Station, Weehawken Heights, N.J." The sale was to be held on Sunday, June 15th, 1895 at the site and was conducted by James L. Wells, auctioneer of 59 Liberty Street in New York City. The piece includes an engraving of the casino building of the Eldorado Amusement Park, which stood on the site. This page is part of a prospectus which is in the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission.
• Eldorado - Program Page from Egypt Through Centuries

  This page from an souvenir program from the Eldorado theater and amusement park is from the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission. During the 1892 season, the Eldorado presented a Circus each afternoon and a spectacular called 'Egypt Through Centuries' each evening.
• Eldorado - The Castle

  Undated black and white photo looking east towards the Castle building of the Eldorado Amusement Park. Seen at rear are strolling park goers and the Hudson River beyond. From the collection of the Weehawken Historial Commission.
• Eldorado - View of the Casino from the Castle

  Undated black and white photo (circa 1892) showing the Casino building of the Eldorado Amusement Park as seen from the Castle building. From the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission.
• Eldorado - The Castle

  Undated photograph from the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission showing the Castle building of the Eldorado theater and amusement park. The Castle was later used by artist Karl Bitter as his studio.
• Eldorado - Front view of the Palisades from the Elevators

  Undated black and white photograph showing a view of the Eldorado theater and amusement complex as seen from the top of the elevators which carried people from the ferry slips to the top of the Palisades. From the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission.
• The Trestle Work Leading to the Elevators

  Undated black and white photo (c. 1892-1897) from the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission showing the great steam elevator which lifted ferry passengers from the foot of the Palisades to a 900 foot railroad trestle where they could board trains for the Eldorado or the Guttenberg Race Track.
• Eldorado - The Casino

  Undated photograph, circa 1891, showing the Casino building on the grounds of the Eldorado Amusement Park. This item is in the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission.
• Eldorado - To the Castle

  An undated black and white photograph (circa 1892) showing a small girl standing on the grounds of the Eldorado in front of a sign reading "To the Castle." From the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission.
• Eldorado - From the Mall to the Bandshell

  Photograph from the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission (W5.5.97) showing the path from the Mall to the band shell at the Eldorado. A handwritten inscription on the back of the photo reads "Famous Eldorado - Dancing Theater Dinner - The cream of society New York City come over in Ferry Boats."The date of this photo is unknown but is circa 1894.
• Eldorado - The Mall Leading to the Bandstand

  Black and white photo captioned "1892 - The band stand was located just west of what is now Boulevard East on Hudson Place; the mall lay between the band stand and Casino where refreshments were served in outdoor gardens." Photograph from the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission (W10.5.97)
• Tickets from the Eldorado

  These two tickets provided admittance to the Eldorado on Saturday evening, August 25th, 1894. The more expensive of the two sold for seventy five cents while the less expensive could be had for half a dollar. This was the final season of the Eldorado Amusement Park. From the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission.
• Eldorado Realty Company Prospectus

  Sales brochure designed to entice potential homebuyers to purchase property in the Eldorado Heights section of Weehawken around the turn of the century. This was after the closing of the Eldorado amusement park. I hope that not too many purchasers were counting on the never to be built North Hudson Bridge. From the collection of the Weehawken Historical Commission.
• Painting of Railroad and Eldorado Amusement Park

  Willie Demontreux found this image on www.railfan.net along with a caption supplied by the site moderator, 'waterlevel:' Port Imperial is now where the New York Central train and ferry yards once stood. In the ticket/boarding area for the current ferries that run between New Jersey and New York you can find a few paintings on the wall. This is one of them. I can't tell you the story behind it but as you can see it depicts the New York Central tracks in an earlier era of transportation and architecture. For those who have not seen the landscape of New York and New Jersey from the water I recommend a trip on the Spirit Cruises that depart from Port Imperial.
• The Largest Passenger Elevators in the World

  Article from The Manufacturer and Builder, November 1891. The Largest Passenger Elevators in the World. The largest elevators, for carrying passengers, in the world, have just been completed on the banks of the Hudson, near Weehawken. The high table- land in New Jersey, opposite New York city, amid between the Hudson River and the Hackensack, has, up to to this time, not been used as generally for purposes of pleasure and residence as it should have been. This elevated plain, known as the Palisades, is at its beginning some one hundred and fifty feet above high tide, and is over a mile wide at the same point. It stretches north for many miles up the Hudson River, and naturally rises in elevatlon as it proceeds. This high land has been accessible only by steep grades for wagon roads, and by means of stairways which climbed laboriously up the steep cliff. The Hudson County Railway Company, which operates the elevated road at Hoboken, and controls many of the street-car lines in that neighborhood, has of late years been extending these lines and increasing the facilities for getting on top of the Palisades, and from one point of this high plateau to another. The most recent addition to the plant of this company has been the building of huge elevators at Weehawken, where the ferryboats from Forty-second and Jay streets, New York city, discharge their passengers, and where, also, the West Shore Railway starts north and west to Albany and Buffalo. These elevators are the largest ever constructed for passengers, and in planning them the engineers have adopted new devices to secure their safety against accidents. From the elevators, which rise just from the water's edge, there is an immense viaduct, or elevated railroad, which runs some eight hundred feet back to the hill, where connections will be made with the various steam and horse cars which will run in one direction and another. Harper's Weekly.
• Eldorado Hotel in 1890, Highwood Park, N.J.

  Black and white undivided photo postcard mislabeled as the Eldorado Hotel in 1890. It was the Eldorado Casino building and park were not open until June of 1891. Published by E.F. Walter, Hoboken, N.J. Card has a number 4392 on it.  
• The Old Railroad Cut, Weehawken, N.J.

  Black and white photo postcard showing a dapper gentleman posing on the west side of the old railroad cut that brought the North Hudson Railway Company trains through the Palisades from a trestle that attached to a giant passenger elevator on the banks of the Hudson. Looking east towards the river, the homes at left are on the south side of Clifton Terrace. The railroad only lasted a few years, partially due to inexpensive and convenient trolley service from the West Shore Ferry terminal up Clifton Road, introduced in 1895. Postmarked September 22, 1909 from Albany, NY. Weehawken Post Card Co., Union Hill NJ. Made in Germany.
• Scientific American - Roman Ampitheater at Weehawken, NJ

  Article from October 31, 1891 issue of Scientific American describing the Roman Ampitheater at the Eldorado in Weehawken.
• Eldorado Souvenir Booklet

  This booklet contains a number of engravings of The Eldorado Resort and its surrounding environs, including: The trestle work leading to the elevators Front view of the Palisades from the elevators View of river an bay from Castle Point The Castle The Mall leading to the Band Stand. Birds Eye View of the Ampitheatre looking southeast. Rear view of the Ampitheatre and Arena. The Water Works. The Fountain - Largest and Most Costly in America. 12 pages -- date unknown, but most probably the late 1870s. A large download, but worth it...  
• Steam Elevator at Weehawken

  Black and white photograph(1895) of the great elevator from the book, The Hackensack Water Company 1869 - 1969 by Adrian Leiby and Nancy Wichman. The caption reads: Steam elevator at Weehawken which lowered passenger-laden trolleys and other vehicles to 42nd Street Ferry at foot of Palisades, c 1895. In fact, the elevator lowered and raised passengers only, on large elevator cars, not trolleys. At the top, passengers transferred to trains which took them to Eldorado or on to the Guttenberg Racetrack. Published in 1969 by the Bergen County Historical Society.