On this day in history, June 16, 1884, America’s first roller coaster opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.
According to History.com, the ride, known as the Switchback Railway, was the brainchild of LaMarcus Thompson.
The roller coaster traveled at about six miles per hour and cost just five cents to ride, according to the nonprofit Coney Island History Project, which said it took passengers along West 10th Street from Surf Avenue to the shore.
On this day in history, June 15, 1864, Arlington National Cemetery was established in Virginia.
This roller coaster didn’t perform a round-trip loop. Instead, the Western Reserve Historical Society explains, the ride consisted of two parallel tracks descending in opposite directions from an elevated tower.
“To complete the trip, passengers had to get off the vehicle after it came to a halt, climb a second 50-foot tower and then get back into their vehicle to return,” the same source said.
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On June 16, 1884, the first roller coaster built for entertainment purposes in America opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. “Despite its flaws, the ride was so popular that it is said to have paid for itself within its first month of operation.”
“The Switchback Railway, which debuted in Coney Island on June 16, 1884, holds the distinction of being the first roller coaster-type ride designed and constructed for entertainment purposes rather than an existing railroad that was converted for entertainment purposes,” the Western Reserve Historical Society notes.
“Despite its drawbacks, the ride has proven extremely popular and reportedly paid for itself within a month of operation.”
Following his success with Coney Island, attractions developer Thompson founded an amusement empire called the L.A. Thompson Scenic Railroad Company.
According to the Coney Island History Project, the company manufactured classic roller coasters and a variety of other rides for amusement parks around the world.
Coney Island’s first hotel opened in 1829, and by the years after the Civil War, it had become an established resort destination with theaters, restaurants and a horse race track, according to History.com.
On this day in history, February 2, 1913, Grand Central Terminal, the largest train station in the world, opened in New York City.
“Between 1897 and 1904, three amusement parks opened in Coney Island: Dreamland, Luna Park and Steeplechase,” History.com adds.
By the 1920s, Coney Island was accessible by subway, and according to History.com, crowds flocked to Coney Island in the summer for its rides, games, shows, beaches, and a 2.5-mile boardwalk, which was completed in 1923.
The hot dog is said to have been invented in Coney Island in 1867 by Charles Feltman.
Nathan’s is now famous not only for its hot dogs, but also for the hot dog eating contest held every Fourth of July in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
“In 1916, a former Feltman employee opened a hot dog stand called Nathan’s, which became a Coney Island institution and an international franchise,” the source said.
“Today, Nathan’s is famous not only for its hot dogs, but also for the hot dog eating contest held every Fourth of July in Coney Island.”
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According to PBS, by the 1920s, Coney Island had lost much of its special charm.
“This was largely due to the advent of cinema and radio, but also because maintaining its original grandeur was too expensive, and probably because it was widely imitated in other cities across the country and around the world,” the source said.
In 1927, another iconic coaster, the wooden roller coaster “Cyclone,” opened at Coney Island’s Luna Park.
“The Cyclone can reach speeds of up to 60 mph, carry 24 passengers and boasts a 2,640-foot long track,” the Luna Park NYC website states.
“Featured in major motion pictures, music videos and artwork, the Cyclone is a cultural phenomenon and one of Brooklyn’s most iconic tourist destinations,” the site says.
In the spring of 1972, it was announced that the Cyclone would be removed to make way for an expansion of the aquarium, but according to Coasterpedia, a “Save the Cyclone” campaign prevented the closure and the coaster reopened in 1975.
The Cyclone was designated a New York City Landmark in 1988 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, and to this day is acclaimed worldwide and is hailed by multiple sources as one of the most famous roller coasters in the world.
At Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island on July 4, 2022, contestants will compete to see who can eat the most hot dogs.
Capable of speeds of up to 60 mph and an 85-foot drop, Cyclone is one of the oldest coasters in the country still in operation, according to History.com.
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Today, Coney Island is home to an aquarium, an amusement park, restaurants, shops and more.
From roller coasters to go-karts, live entertainment and boardwalk games, beachfront Coney Island has something for everyone, according to the Coney Island Fun Guide.
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By the mid-1960s, Coney Island’s main amusement park had closed and the area had taken on a “seedy” image, according to the site.
However, it has been redeveloped in recent decades and is still a popular tourist destination today.
And it is still home to cyclones.
Article Source: On this day in history, June 16, 1884, America’s first roller coaster opened in Coney Island.
