1900: Coney Island’s amusement parks
Coney Island’s beaches were always a popular destination for New Yorkers escaping the heat of a pre-air-conditioning city. Then, between 1887 and 1904, a series of amusement parks were constructed on the Island for the visiting crowds. In the elaborately constructed buildings, people could be taken on a multitude of simulated trips and witness elaborate theatrics. Luna Park took people to the Moon in the spaceship Luna, and to the North Pole in a submarine.
Images: Library of Congress
