Live Camel Rides Postcard

Yes, there were actually live camel rides in Venice, in Abbot Kinney's day.

For the grand opening of Venice of America in 1905, Abbot Kinney brought in the wildly popular amusement rides and attractions from the Chicago and St. Louis Worlds Fairs. One of the attractions that was on the south bank of The Lagoon (now Windward Circle, was "Streets of Cairo." So, of course, live camel rides were available to the public, to stroll along Windward and take in the festivities.