Here is a picture from the library's photographic collections of the Cedar Point boat landing, circa 1900 (when virtually everybody who went to Cedar Point arrived by boat).
Yes, believe it or not, those people in suits and floor-length dresses are going to the beach and the amusement park. (You always dressed up in those days.) But you'll notice that the dock itself isn't very "dressed up" -- you see the spare lumber and debris and the nearly-bare ground next to the boardwalk. Not very attractive; certainly not a scene you would want to put in a tourist guide.But there is a solution to every problem. . . . In 1903 there was published a book, titled simply What, that was intended as a souvenir and promotional guide to the Sandusky area. It showed scenes of local interest, including, of course, Cedar Point. Here is a view from the book of the same photograph above, but with a little bit of editing:
Notice the difference? The publisher decided to beautify the dock by adding some flower beds and making the grass a little fuller. Unfortunately, they had to do it with a little bit of paint and creativity. Looks realistic, doesn't it? (Well, maybe not.)
Have you ever seen the doctored photos put out following the San Francisco earthquake in 1906? There were some amazing shots that attempted to minimize the damage done by the earthquake and fire in order to continue to promote SF's economic potential.
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