Designated July 12, 1988
Descended from the ice slides enjoyed in eighteenth-century Russia, through the many changes incorporated by French and American inventors, the Cyclone has been one of the country’s premier roller coasters since its construction in 1927. Designed by engineer Vernon Keenan and built by noted amusement ride inventor Harry C. Baker for Jack and Irving Rosenthal, the Cyclone belongs to an increasingly rare group of wood-track coasters; modern building codes make it irreplaceable. The design of its twister-type circuit and the enormous weight of the cars allow the trains to travel on their own momentum after being carried up to the first plunge by mechanical means.
STATUS Designated Individual Landmark
The Neighborhood
Coney Island
Coney Island faces Lower New York Bay and Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and was formerly part of Gravesend, one of Brooklyn’s original six towns. Originally an island it was connected to Brooklyn (Long Island) by landfill in the early 20th century.
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