Coney Island History Site

Last Updated on August 8, 2000

This interactive educational site covers the history of Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. It features timelines, historic articles and photographs, interactive maps that when clicked on show historic views, and lists of movies filmed on Coney Island's streets, beaches and amusement parks. Coney Island was considered the world's largest and premier amusement area during the first half of the 20th Century. It was a beach resort that provided carefree entertainment and thrilling amusement park rides to the millions of residents that lived in New York City. It featured three huge amusement parks; Luna Park, Steeplechase and Dreamland, and countless other attractions along the Bowery, Surf Avenue and its numerous side streets.

The historic articles and photographs for this educational site are based on Jeffrey Stanton's research for a forthcoming history book that would concentrate on Coney Island's amusement park business during the 20th century. While others have written extensively on the area's early history and its social history, they have sadly neglected the amusement park rides and the people who designed them.Book Status: Text nearly complete with 135,000 words in seven chapters. However photos of rides and attractions are sparse and publishers aren't interested in a book with text. May have to self publish.

The author who is the content provider for this educational site, hopes that expanding the material for this site becomes a colaborative venture. It would be beneficial to all, that other researchers help fill in the missing pieces and share in providing content for this educational site.The author has digitized numerous photographs and color antique postcards from his archives. The material is copyrighted © 1997 by Jeffrey Stanton. While students may use it freely in their school reports, commercial use of the material in any printed form is prohibited without permission and fees paid to the author.

The site is looking for additional historic material; antique postcards, original photographs, ride tickets, guide books with maps, and various souvenir items. If one has material either for sale or to donate to this site, please leave a message (E-Mail) or write to:

Please send E-Mail to:jstanton@westland.net

Click here to reach the Venice History Site.