Coney Island History

Modern Day Coney Island

Coney Island is now nothing more than an ironic name, as it is no longer an island at all. It has been transformed into a peninsula, located in the southern region of Brooklyn in New York City. Coney Island is also the name of a 600,000 person community which is located on the western area of the peninsula. Both this neighborhood and the modern-day resort are surrounded by beaches, and are also home to KeySpan Park which hosts the Brooklyn Cyclones’ minor league baseball games.

Today, Coney Island is also home to Astroland, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, 12th Street Amusement and Kiddie Park. While the amusement park aspect that once made Coney Island famous is continuing to fade from the seascape, many families still visit Coney Island for old-fashioned fun and entertainment. When one visits Coney Island, they must take a moment to reflect upon its rich history, rather than gazing too long at the ghost-town caliber shops and rides that now exist in certain areas of the peninsula.

Celebrated Coney Island History

Coney Island history dates back to the resort that was founded there after the Civil War. Since many railroads and streetcars began reaching the island in the 1860s, various hotels and amusement parks began to spring up in the area. Plenty of entrepreneurs hit the big time at Coney Island, including the still famous Nathan’s Hot Dogs, which got its start in 1916. The company still holds an annual hot dog eating contest on its grounds each year on the 4th of July.

The first carousel came to Coney Island in 1876, thanks to a Danish woodcarver, and this led to plenty of other amusements and eventually thrills such as the Cyclone roller coaster that was erected in 1927. It stands strong as one of the world’s oldest wooden roller coasters still in existence.

Coney Island thrived as an amusement park industry, providing plenty of entertainment for New York families and international visitors, until the beginning of its decline in the 1940s. A section of Coney Island was shut down due to extreme problems with gang-related issues. These troubled young people single handedly destroyed a once booming industry, and families began to stay on the coastlines of the beaches rather than take a risk on the rides and concessions found in a now dangerous part of New York.

Housing projects began to replace what was once the site of quality amusement park rides, and the final major park on the island – Steeplechase Park – closed in 1964.

Coney Island: Making History Today

Wonder Wheel

While much of Coney Island’s original charm has been replaced with housing tracts and commercial dealings, there are still some great things to enjoy if you are an amusement park purist visiting the NYC area. The Wonder Wheel was built in 1918 and is a protected NYC landmark upheld by the National Register of Historic Places. This steel Ferris wheel is a classic, and is part of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

The Cyclone roller coaster is also a favorite thrill in the area, and can be found across the street from Astroland.

Lastly, the Parachute Jump was created for the 1939 New York World’s Fair and was the first simulated sky-diving adventure ever created for the amusement park circuit. Outside of these historical attractions, you can also find the B & B Carousell, which is noted for both its unusual spelling and vintage feel. Also be sure to check out the various haunted houses and bumper cars located throughout Coney Island.

Keeping the Memory Alive

In 1980, Coney Island USA was established as a non-profit organization. The goal of the group is to raise awareness about Coney Island’s fading historical gems while promoting popular traditions still operating on the island. These include the annual Mermaid Parade, vintage burlesque shows and the Coney Island museum that helps keep the island’s past alive.

You can learn more about Coney Island history and preservation efforts by visiting ConeyIsland.com.