A Look Back: Liberty Park (and its kangaroos), 1935-51

A handwritten note on the back of this photo says

This undated photo shows children at the tennis courts. We think this may be from the No Champs Tennis Tournament sponsored by the The Tribune for a number of years, but there isn't any information with the photo. Tribune file photo

The caption on the back of this 1939 photo says,

Two women feed geese at Liberty Park in 1936. Tribune file photo

Boys play at the Liberty Park pool in this undated photo. Tribune file photo

Eileen Sommer, age 4, and Stanley Sommer, age 2, at Liberty Park in 1951. Tribune file photo

The caption on the back of this 1940 photo says,

This undated photo shows swans at Liberty Park. Tribune file photo

This undated photo shows the boat docks at Liberty Park. Tribune file photo

Children play on a slide at Liberty Park in this photo dated July 18, 1937. Tribune file photo

Caretaker Alan Kesler tends to kangaroos at Liberty Park in this photo dated March 26, 1951. Tribune file photo

Visitors look at swans and ducks at Tracy Aviary in this photo dated March 26, 1951. Tribune file photo

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A handwritten note on the back of this photo says "Miss Margaret Stead at Liberty Park." The photo is dated May 23, 1935. Tribune file photo This undated photo shows children at the tennis courts. We think this may be from the No Champs Tennis Tournament sponsored by the The Tribune for a number of years, but there isn't any information with the photo. Tribune file photo The caption on the back of this 1939 photo says, "Delighting youngsters and grownups alike, the Liberty park aviary, donated by Russel L. Tracy, chairman of the board, Tracy Loan & Trust company, has become the Mecca of bird lovers and another reason why Salt Lake is "The City Beautiful." The picture above, taken at an unusual angle by The Telegram photographer, presents a section of the seal pond, where fascinated spectators watch the silky skinned animals cavort, and one side of the semi-eliptical bird cage, where hundreds of tropical and other winged creatures flit with gay chirps or strut in pompous realization of their beauty. Monkeys, fish and other strange creatures abound." Tribune file photo Two women feed geese at Liberty Park in 1936. Tribune file photo Boys play at the Liberty Park pool in this undated photo. Tribune file photo Eileen Sommer, age 4, and Stanley Sommer, age 2, at Liberty Park in 1951. Tribune file photo The caption on the back of this 1940 photo says, "Virginia Cooper, left, and Nicholaus Kramer take a practice boat ride on the lake at Liberty park as they lay plans for the Senior Girl Scout boat frolic to be held May 29 in honor of Miss Rosabelle Birch of the national organization of Girl Scouts." Tribune file photo This undated photo shows swans at Liberty Park. Tribune file photo The caption on the back of this 1939 photo says, "A thick blanket of yellow and gold covers the ground in Liberty park, while trees stretch bare arms in the autumn sky. The scene was caught by a Telegram photographer." Tribune file photo This undated photo shows the boat docks at Liberty Park. Tribune file photo The caption with this photo says, "Recently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Liberty Park in Salt Lake City has been a favorite recreation spot for residents and tourists. Shown here in the 1950s, the River Queen on the park's pond once delighted park visitors." Tribune file photo Children play on a slide at Liberty Park in this photo dated July 18, 1937. Tribune file photo Caretaker Alan Kesler tends to kangaroos at Liberty Park in this photo dated March 26, 1951. Tribune file photo Visitors look at swans and ducks at Tracy Aviary in this photo dated March 26, 1951. Tribune file photo

The Salt Lake Tribune

· June 10, 2011 3:26 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Salt Lake Tribune will occasionally present images from its archives in a special series called A Look Back.

This collection of images shows Salt Lake City's Liberty Park from 1935 to 1951.

Previous installments showed:

Historical images of the 100-year-old Hotel Utah, which is now The Joseph Smith Memorial Building • http://bit.ly/mI7JB8

People and events in Salt Lake City from the 1930s, '40s and '50s • http://bit.ly/kAUB9j

Historical images of Sugar House • http://bit.ly/jHQhnX

Aerial images of Salt Lake City in the 1960s • http://bit.ly/iRGaoN

Every gallery of the series is available at http://www.sltrib.com/topics/lookback.