…I spend an awful lot of time thinking about a place I’ve never been.

I’m no historian but I love a good story.

If you asked me about Pittsburg’s Luna Park this is what I’d say: Frederick Ingersoll threw open the gates to his electric wonderland in June 1905, welcoming 25,000 visitors to drift among the glow of 67,000 incandescent bulbs. Not everything was ready for opening night, but that didn’t matter.

With attractions such as Shoot the Chutes, the Mystic River, the Electric Theater, and Darkness and Dawn, the moon city was packed with delights. The park saw terror in its lifetime — daredevil’s stunts gone wrong, fires, and even a lion attack. And tragedy, too. Ingersoll poured all of his money into amusement and declared bankruptcy in 1908 with just a suit left to his name.

And then it was gone — closed just four years after its opening in 1905. But in that brief time, it bathed Pittsburgh in wonder.

At least, I like to imagine it did.

This is my personal compendium of all things Luna Park. It’s mostly paper ephemera, quick glimpses into magic and the mundane. I’m always looking for more, so send me an email if you’ve got some: magsonthemoon@gmail.com