Glen Echo Park

The Bumper Car Pavilion

This is a brief picture history of the Bumper Car Pavilion, which has been re-habilitated by volunteer effort.

All photographs are from the collection of *Richard A. Cook* Click on any picture to display a larger one. If you want to retrieve an even larger picture for close examination of details, click the corresponding Large
The pictures show the evolution of the building from its beginning as The Scooter, to its art deco existence as the Dodgem with eagles on each decorative pillar, to the current Bumper Car Pavilion. The Scooter was built in 1923 and the park closed in 1968.
Large	Early 1920's. This photo of the front (West side, facing the carousel) was taken soon after The Scooter was built in 1923. A canopy extends along the front. Just one support is left in the current front as evidence of this canopy. In the center of the front there was a booth for tickets.
Large	Early 1920's. This photo shows the cars that were in use then. There was no entrance into the ride from either the North (facing the Arcade) or South (facing the canal) ends. Close examination shows that the supporting columns at the North end are lighter weight than the columns in the East and West sides.
Large	Early 1920's. This photo of The Whip includes a view of the North side of The Scooter. Is it imagination or are there signs of the lattice work bowing out as it does at present?
Large	Early 1920's. A night time photo showing the front of the building.
Large	Mid 1920's. Here we can see that the cars have been updated. (Click car comparison). There is also a good view of the entrance booth from the inside.
Large	About 1927. Once more the cars have been updated. (Click car comparison). The management tried to have a new attraction each year the park was open. The picture also shows the lattice that filled the East side (facing the hall of Mirrors) of the building.
Large	About 1930. A major update to the building has taken place. It is now called the Dodgem. The original building is encased in an art deco shell. There are golden(?) eagles atop each column.
Large	Early 1930's. A view of the South West corner of the Dodgem building. The eagles can be seen better in this picture.
Large	Mid 1940's. The cars have been updated again - less decorated (wartime?) and more enclosed than before. Click (car comparison). This view looks towards the back (East side) of the building
Large	1968 or 1969. Taken shortly after the park closed, this picture shows that the art deco shell is still in place on the bumper car pavilion.
Large	Early 1980's. The building has been stripped back to its original Scooter form, but the canopy at the front has been removed. Volunteers are cleaning and re-painting some of the surviving woodwork.
Large	Early 1980's. Another picture of the re-painting. The supporting columns were white then. (Now, in 1997, they are orange).
Large	Early 1980's. Another picture of the re-painting.
Large	1920's to 1940's. Evolution of the cars. These show the progression of the bumper car designs.