Coney Island

The beach where New York learned to have fun: a wooden boardwalk, a 1920 wheel and a 1927 roller coaster

Local name: Coney Island, Riegelmann Boardwalk

Collection: New York · USA · Open in OpenStreetMap

The wooden Riegelmann Boardwalk · Josh Jackson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The story

Before you is Coney Island, a beach and amusement area at the southern edge of Brooklyn. Nobody knows for sure where the name comes from. The most popular theory traces it to the Dutch word for “rabbit.” By the middle of the nineteenth century people came here for the seaside, and later came amusement parks with paid admission. In 1897 George Tilyou opened Steeplechase Park, Luna Park opened in 1903, and Dreamland in 1904. At night thousands of electric light bulbs lit them up. Dreamland burned down in 1911 and was never rebuilt. Around 1920 the subway reached Coney Island, and the ride cost a nickel. The crowds became more ordinary people. From 1916 hot dogs were sold here for a nickel, and that is how Nathan’s began. By 1925 a million people came here on an average Sunday. Under your feet is the Riegelmann Boardwalk. Its first stage was completed on the fifteenth of May 1923, and today it runs 2.7 miles. Look at the Wonder Wheel. It was invented by Charles Herman and opened on the thirtieth of May 1920. It is 150 feet tall and weighs 200 tons. Eight of its cars are fixed, while sixteen slide along curved tracks toward the hub and back out again as the wheel turns. Nearby is the wooden Cyclone roller coaster, which opened in 1927.

Visiting

Coney Island, Brooklyn: the Riegelmann Boardwalk at the end of Stillwell Avenue. Take the subway to the last stop, Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue, then walk about five minutes to the ocean. The boardwalk and the beach are open to everyone. The rides do not run all year: check the parks’ websites for the season and hours.