Kennywood has evolved into the amusement park we all know today, but there are signs of history located in virtually every piece of the park, from buildings to roller coasters to food choices.

This historical marker greets visitors as they enter Kennywood. In 1898, the Monongahela Street Railways Company, seeking to increase fare profits on the weekends, leased the land in order to create a trolley park at the end of their line.

These first few photos are from 1906, during the early days of Kennywood Park. This is the Casino building, added to the park in 1899.

Pictured here is the famous 'lagoon' area of the park, one of the first attractions built inside of the park.

During the first few years of the 20th century, Kennywood erected the Wonderland building in an area to the left and forward of where the Turtle ride is today. This photo is from 1906.

Pictured here is the old Victorian Windmill, once located in the middle of the lagoon. It is a wooden structure built on a stone foundation and is one of the oldest structures in the park. It was built in 1921.

It was moved to the front of the park to make room for the Traver circle swing, better known as the Rocketships.

You can find this historical sign on the front of the Windmill today. Look for it on the left as you first enter the park.

Large crowds visit Kennywood in the early 1900s.

A wide shot of the windmill, the lagoon and the crowds of people surrounding the roller coasters around the park.

An aerial view of the main lagoon area of Kennywood.

Games have always been a part of the Kennywood Park experience.

Folks head toward Kiddieland and the "Auto Race" ride. The ride opened in 1930.

The Auto Race, also known as the Auto Ride, was opened in 1930, and features electric cars that run through a trough-like wooden track that twists and turns. When the ride opened in 1930, it had several small hills placed in the track (see top left area). Reports say they were removed soon after due to rear-end collisions caused when cars couldn't get up and over them on rainy days.

A look at the Auto Race area today.

You'll find this historical plaque near the entrance to the ride.

It remains a popular rides for little kids and big kids.

The clock still exists, but the twin Ferris Wheels have since been removed from the park.

Here's a look at the Kennywood Park clock today.

Kennywood's Loop-O-Plane ride, which was removed in 1950 in favor of a more modern version of the ride. Several rides have come and gone from this location in the park.

The Aero 360 ride sits in that area today.

Folks enjoy rowboats on the lagoon on a sunny afternoon.

A miniature version of the "Whip" - which was part of the original Kiddieland.

The mini-whip is still running in Kiddieland to this day.

An aerial photo of "The Racer" -- a twin track-racing coaster, built by the Ingersoll Brothers in 1910, and costing nearly $50,000. It was the largest racing coaster in the world when built.

The original "Racer" was torn down in 1910, and the current "Racer" we all know was put up in its place.

The modern-day version of the Racer was built in 1927. A reverse curve so that the train that started on the right side of the loading platform would finish on the left side. The new racer, which had wheels under the tracks, permitted bank curves as well as curves on the dips. The final hill was taken out of the coaster in 1949.

The loading platform's facade was redesigned in 1946 and in 1960. The original front was restored in 1990.

The roller coaster is considered a historic landmark.

Modern day photos of "The Racer"

Modern day photos of "The Racer"

Modern day photos of "The Racer"

It has also been honored by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, for being the world's oldest 'racing' roller coaster.

A historical photo of the Jack Rabbit. In 1921, Kennywood Park hired one of America's top coaster to design a new high-speed coaster. John A. Miller designed the new $50,000 coaster. It takes advantage of a ravine on the edge of the park. The train is made up of three seat cars with a capacity of 18.

Originally the ride had a tunnel after the first drop, but the tunnel was removed in the 1940's. It was restored in 1991.

A modern-day view of the Jack Rabbit.

A modern-day view of the Jack Rabbit.

A modern-day view of the Jack Rabbit. The final dip of the roller coaster.

A modern-day view of the Jack Rabbit.

A modern-day view of the Jack Rabbit; folks arriving at the end of the ride.

Help us identify this roller coaster ride. Email webstaff@wtae.com to help.

Have your own historical Kennywood Park photos you would like to share with us? Email ulocal@wtae.com.

Help us identify this roller coaster ride. Email webstaff@wtae.com to help.

Have your own historical Kennywood Park photos you would like to share with us? Email ulocal@wtae.com!

The Teddy Bear Coaster was built in 1935, and was a small Kiddie Coaster. Over 21,133 board feet of lumber were used. The trains consisted of three two-seat cars. The ride closed in 1947.

The Dipper was built in 1948 and it was redesigned in 1951 when additional hills and track were added.. Standing at 40-feet high and measuring 1,650 feet long.

The Dipper was built in 1948 and it was redesigned in 1951 when additional hills and track were added.. Standing at 40-feet high and measuring 1,650 feet long.

Can you identify this roller coaster ride? Email webstaff@wtae.com to help us.

(UPDATE: Several viewers identify this as the "Speed-O-Plane." It was in operation from 1911-23. Thanks for the help!)

Do you have any historical Kennywood photos to share with us? Email them to ulocal@wtae.com.

The famous "potato patch" in the center of Kennywood, where French fries are served in a basket with an option of up to eight toppings.

The famous "potato patch" in the center of Kennywood, where French fries are served in a basket with an option of up to eight toppings.

The famous "potato patch" in the center of Kennywood, where French fries are served in a basket with an option of up to eight toppings.

A modern-day photo of The Potato Patch.

Noah's Ark opened in 1936 as a walk-through "dark" attraction. Patrons walk through an ark recreating Noah's attempt at bringing animals aboard.

This ride, the last operating of its kind in the world, was remodeled in 1996. During the remodeling, the ark was entirely rebuilt.

The view from Noah's Ark.

A 2012 photo of Noah's Ark.

A modern-day photo of Noah's Ark.

Noah's Ark was renovated before the 2016 season.

The ride now has an "old school" look, bringing back the whale's mouth and squishy tongue.

Old Mill opened in 1901. In 1956, it was made the "Around-the-World" boat ride. In 1974, it was made a western themed ride called "Hard-Headed Harrold's Horrendously Humorous Haunted Hideaway."

The Old Mill ride that opened in 1901.

In 2004, the ride was rethemed as "Garfield's Nightmare." It was changed to a boat ride featuring the Garfield and Odie comic strip characters.

It is the world's oldest operating Old Mill.

The "Turtle" is a bumpy-track or undulating ride with six cars that travel counter-clockwise on a circular track over a series of three hills and dips.

It is still running to this day, located to the left of the Potato Patch restaurant.

Originally called the Tumble Bug, the ride featured bug-themed cars until it received new turtle-like exteriors.

The Turtle is one of only three standing Tumble Bug rides in the world, only two of which are in operation. It is a historic landmark.

The Turtle is one of only three standing Tumble Bug rides in the world, only two of which are in operation. It is a historic landmark.

The Turtle is one of just three standing Tumble Bug rides in the world, only two of which are in operation. It is a historic landmark.

The Turtle is one of only three standing Tumble Bug rides in the world, only two of which are in operation. It is a historic landmark.

Modern-day photos of the Turtle

Modern-day photos of the Turtle

Modern-day photos of the Turtle

One of the oldest buildings in Kennywood Park is this historic landmark formerly used as a casino, now home to a cafeteria.

Dating back to 1898, the building was renovated over the winter of 2010-11. Renovations included installation of central air conditioning, expanded restrooms, new wallpaper, carpet and windows.

A look at the building from nearly the same spot in 2012.

Several signs are located around the building describing the historic aspect of the Casino turned cafeteria.

A winter scene near the former Casino building.

A look inside the cafeteria prior to major renovations in the 2000s.

Photo from inside the building in 2012. You can see central air conditioning is now in place.

A historic photo of the current Merry-Go-Round carousel building at Kennywood.

The current Kennywood Merry-Go-Round was put in place in 1927.

However, this building next to the current Carousel building was actually home to Kennywood's first Merry-Go-Round in 1899.

When Kennywood opened to the public, this was one of only three major buildings in the park. It housed the first Merry-Go-Round. In those days, all the horses were stationary because a jumping mechanism hadn't been invented yet.

In 1926, William Dentzel manufactured the current hand-carved Merry-Go-Round. The old Carrousel building, pictured here, was turned into a "soda fountain," the first of four different food operations to follow in the location.

Remember when Kennywood Park included the huge Sunlite Swimming pool? It was removed in 1973.

Lost Kennywood sits on a portion of the area where the park's Swimming Pool once was.

A new water ride called Log Jammer opened in 1975.

Riders traveled through some of the park's wooded areas on a log flume, leading up to a final spillway drop and a big splash.

After 42 years, Log Jammer was retired in 2017.

Remember the Turnpike? Located just to the right of Kennywood's main entrance, the ride was introduced in 1966.

The Turnpike originally had gasoline-powered cars. Later, it got electric cars.

Kennywood decommissioned the Turnpike in 2010. The park announced that the ride would eventually return in a different location -- something which has yet to happen.

A final look at the Turnpike in 2010.

The Turnpike was replaced in 2010 by the Sky Rocket, a steel coaster with three inversions.

Sky Rocket launches riders up at a 90-degree angle, going from 0 to 50 mph in less than 2 seconds. Along the way, it has a maximum drop of 70 feet.

Debuting in 1980, the Laser Loop was a new kind of thrill for coaster lovers. It quickly blasted off from the station and sent riders upside-down through a giant loop, then came backward through the same loop in reverse.

Laser Loop was replaced in 1991 by The Steel Phantom -- a roller coaster the likes of which had never been seen at Kennywood before.

The Steel Phantom included four inversions along the track. The drop from the second hill was 225 feet. Reaching speeds of 80 mph, it was the world's fastest roller coaster of its time.

The Steel Phantom was an immediate hit, but some complained the ride was too rough on their heads and necks. Extensive changes were made, including the removal of the inversions, and the ride reopened in 2001 with a new name.

The Phantom's Revenge takes riders on that same slow ascent to the top as they leave the station.

Riders enjoy the view from the top of The Phantom's Revenge as they get ready for the first drop.

On its big second drop, the ride passes through the Thunderbolt's structure -- a thrilling moment for everyone on board.

The Phantom's Revenge features a maximum drop of 232 feet, and a top speed of 85 mph.

Here's a look at the former entrance to the park. Notice the position of the gates and the parking lot. That parking area is now home to more rides, while parking has been moved back across Kennywood Boulevard.

Today, there is one main entrance to the park. It is located across Kennywood Boulevard.

A Johnny Rockets restaurant opened in 2014 in the space formerly occupied by the Carousel Food Court.

A 4-D theater was built before the 2015 season. It features high-definition 3-D movies combined with in-theater special effects for an interactive experience.

The 4-D theater debuted with "Ice Age 4-D," which ran for two years before it was replaced by "The Lego Movie 4-D." The theater also shows seasonal themed films during Phantom Fright Nights and Holiday Lights.

Thomas Town debuted in 2018. Located in and around the Olde Kennywood Railroad area, it features a train ride and characters from the children's show "Thomas & Friends."

"Steelers Country" opened in 2019 as the park's biggest new attraction in many years.

Steelers Country is the home of Steel Curtain, a black-and-gold roller coaster with nine inversions and a corkscrew.

At 220 feet, Steel Curtain is the tallest roller coaster in Pennsylvania.

The coaster executes the highest inversion in North America at 197 feet, right before the first drop.

Here's a look at the space where the returning Kangaroo ride is located.

Another look at the new home of the Kangaroo.

Spinvasion is set to debut in 2023. Kennywood says the ride starts as a classic experience and turns into riders racing parallel to the ground, crisscrossing other riders. It's the first multi-action spin ride of its kind in the U.S., according to Kennywood.

We hope you enjoyed our photo tour of Kennywood "Then & Now." If you have any comments or old photos to share, please email our digital team at webstaff@wtae.com!