u/_Dang_It_Bobby_

From Jurassic Library’s instagram, the photo shows the main structure of the lift, finale show scenes, and drop along the parks hillside.

This postcard captures the Queen Mary in Long Beach alongside the massive geodesic dome built to showcase Howard Hughes’ legendary Spruce Goose. The Hughes H-4 Hercules was the largest wooden aircraft ever built, designed during World War II as a heavy transport plane, but delays meant it was completed too late to serve its original purpose. In 1947, Howard Hughes flew the enormous flying boat only once for about a mile over Long Beach Harbor before the aircraft was retired. Decades later, the giant dome was constructed beside the Queen Mary to house the plane as a tourist attraction, opening to the public in 1983. The unfinished-looking structure in this postcard likely shows the dome being built around the aircraft, with ramps used to move the massive plane into position. The Spruce Goose left Long Beach in 1992 and now resides at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Today, the famous dome still stands, but it has been transformed into the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, serving cruise passengers rather than aviation history.

This postcard from the 1980s captures one of Universal Studios Hollywood’s most ambitious Studio Tour attractions: the “Battle of Galactica” laser battle. Opened in 1979, this futuristic encounter transported tram guests into a battle between humans and Cylons from Battlestar Galactica, featuring giant robots, live performers, animatronics, lasers, and practical effects. The tram entered a massive soundstage where a 200-foot spaceship appeared to surround the guests as they fought their way through the attack. At the time, it was considered a groundbreaking attraction and was one of the first major theme park experiences to combine advanced animatronics (outside a Disney park), lasers, and live action. The attraction closed in 1992 and the building was later replaced for Back to the Future: The Ride, which itself was eventually replaced by The Simpsons Ride.

This postcard shows the U.S.–Mexico border at San Ysidro in the 1940s, featuring the original U.S. inspection station that opened in 1933. In this era, travelers could drive almost directly up to the small border checkpoint, a scene that looked very different from today’s massive international crossing. Traffic volumes were only a fraction of what they are now. The original inspection building still stands, now surrounded by the modern San Ysidro Port of Entry, which has become one of the busiest land border crossings in the world, handling tens of millions of people and millions of vehicles each year.

Odeon/Loew's/AMC Universal Cinemas, now in its 39th year. The photo appeared on the cover of the Boxoffice September 1987 "Buyers Directory."

Banh Mi Chao #1 with meatballs, beef, egg, and sausage. Thank you u/jewishjew for the recommendation.

A San Diego brewery offers several San Diego roller coaster themed beers at the park. I enjoyed the citrus forward [Emperor] Hazy IPA. Not pictured, but also available, were an [Arctic Rescue] Hard Seltzer, a [Shipwreck Rapids] lager, and a special SeaWorld 60th anniversary IPA. Unrelated, their new drone show was pretty decent. There is no more pyro for the summer season though.

Exploring the birthplace of Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town! Walter Knott bought and restored Calico Ghost Town back in the '50s. Walking through these real ruins makes you realize just how much the park's Ghost Town vibes were influenced by the real deal.

Shoot, it even has a coaster cars going over the 3rd hill. That’s pretty impressive.