Seaside Fun, History & Culture - Coney Island, Brooklyn

Historic Sites

Jul 15

Coney Island is the name of both a neighborhood and a landmark amusement park. Between 1880 and World War II, Coney Island was the largest amusement park in the United States. Switchback Railway, a gravity coaster was built in 1884. At the height of Coney Island’s popularity, it contained three major parks - Luna Park, Dreamland and Steeplechase Park, as well as other individual, independent amusements and horse-racing. The area became a resort destination with Victorian hotels, vaudeville theaters, private bathhouses here, and in nearby Brighton and Manhattan Beaches. It is said that the famed Elephant Hotel, a giant, seven-story building in the shape of a huge elephant, was seen by immigrants arriving to America prior to seeing the Statue of Liberty. The iconic hotel was demolished in 1896

Coney Island started to draw more and more people when electric trains began connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn. The area started to draw people from many different social classes. Coney Island became a day trip for many that wanted to escape the city heat and enjoy ocean breezes.

The early 1900’s saw additional attractions opening in the area, and it saw more fires, because of the short-cuts taken in construction. In 1907 there was a fire in Steeplechase Park, and Dreamland had one in 1911.

Coney Island went through changes in the years that followed. The 1940’s brought more fires and Robert Moses’ rezoning made the amusement area of Coney Island smaller. The New York World’s Fair in 1964-1965 helped to reduce the number of people visiting the area. Then there were drugs, crime and more public housing in the urban renewal era of the 1970’s and 1980’s. The Cyclone almost met the wrecking ball, and this brought about some of the iconic rides being designated as landmarks. Super storm Sandy in 2012 also caused major damage of the area.

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The billboard letting you know you’ve arrived..

Paul’s Daughter is one of the classic boardwalk joints for over six decades

A look down the classic boardwalk

The El is an easy way of getting here

Vintage-style mural art on Art Wall

Lunch at Nathan’s - Two dogs and a Coke

Nathan’s Famous advertisment

The Ford Ampitheater was originally the Colonial Spanish Revival-style Childs Restaurant building, built in 1923.

The Ford Ampitheater opened in 2016, in the century old restaurant

Another view of the Ford Ampitheater

Coney Island Welcomes You tile

The now non-operational parachute jump opened in 1941. This ride is a remnant of the 1939 New York Worlds Fair.

A look up at the classic, landmarked parachute jump ride frame

This is a view from the Steeplechase Pier

The Carousell with the parachute jump ride in the background

The 1925 Thunderbolt was replaced with the current steel version, built on the site in 2014 .

The entrance to Luna Games

Boardwalk eats and drinks

Colorful shop facades

The Wonder Wheel opened in 1920

McDonald’s themed mural art

Classic boardwalk look

Another look at the colorful park

The New York Aquarium entrance

These bizarre looking structures are hurricane-proof restrooms

Another view of the space-age beach restroom buildings

Artist Vito Actinic used the boardwalk and the Cyclone as inspirations for this West 8th St / NY Aquarium station

The Cyclone roller coaster covers 2,640 feet of track in a ride that takes less than two minutes.

The Cyclone debuted in 1927 and has been a core ride at Luna Park. It has NYC Landmarkstatus (1988) and is on the National Register of Historic Places (1991).

Before 2000, the Cyclone was the third-steepest drop of any wooden rollercoaster in the world.

The Coney Island Circus Sideshow, or the Freak Show as it was commonly called, features flame throwers, snake lady and sword swallowers.

The Coney Island Circus Sideshow is the last permanently housed, not for profit venue in the USA, where you can experience a traditional ten-in-one circus sideshow.

They’re here, they’re real and they’re alive! Freaks, wonders and human curiosities at the Coney Island Circus Sideshow.

Boardwalk mural

Nathan’s Famous, the site of the 4th of July hotdog eating contest

The next few pictures are of the Art Wall

A vaguely sinister, widely smiling man whose image still haunts the boardwalk today.

What you should know:

Buying you wristband online cuts down on wait times when you arrive at the park.

Restrooms are available
Events occurring at Coney Island include Friday fireworks, Hot Dog eating contest, Burlesque on the Beach and the Mermaid Parade.
On the street parking is available, but can be challenging at times. Make sure to check posted parking regulation signs.
You could spend a couple of hours to an entire day.
Most attractions are open seasonally.

Location: Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224

More information on Coney Island and Luna Park