Wonder Gallery CIHP Season Extended

WHAT'S NEW

Exhibit Season Extended Thru October 11

Summer is not over! We're happy to announce an extended season for the Wonder Gallery and the Coney Island History Project. Our free exhibits will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-7 PM through October 11th.

View this season's special exhibits curated by Charles Denson and Amanda Deutch in our Wonder Gallery, a collaboration with Parachute Literary Arts.

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Oral History

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Featured Oral History Interviews

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Anne Green

Memories of growing up in Coney Island in the 1930s and '40s

Rob Weissbard

Milton Berger's nephew describes adventures at Steeplechase Park with Coney's great showman

Frank Gurrera

Machinist at MTA's Coney Island Overhaul and Repair Shop and oldest active TWU Local 100 member

Ralph Avella

Memories of working on the Coney Island Parachute Jump's operation crew at age 16

Nancy Gabriel

Memories of visiting Uncle Pete, who ran a food concession at Steeplechase Pool in the 1930s-50s

Richard Glazer-Danay

Artist who grew up in Coney Island and whose artwork celebrates his Mohawk iron worker ancestry

Explore Our Collection

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McCullough Carousel, West 15th Street
The Funny Place
World of Wax Musee
Asleep on the beach
McCullough Carousel, West 15th Street
Shooting the Rapids Coaster
Children below the Wonder Wheel
Willie's Homemade Pizza

Hall of Fame

Inventors, performers, impresarios, and community leaders - these are among the many pioneers and visionaries whose creativity and ingenuity helped shape and define Coney Island over the past century. Each year, the Coney Island Hall of Fame pays tribute to a selected group of honorees. Their contributions are highlighted in an exhibit of colorful banners accompanied by illustrated text panels detailing their fascinating lives.

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Featured Video

Memories of Coney Island's Mermaid Avenue in the 1950s

New on our YouTube channel: Charles Denson's Mermaid Avenue in the 1950's brings together photos from the Coney Island History Project Collection and the voices of Michael "Looch" Goldstein and Stanley Fox. They grew up at opposite ends of Mermaid Avenue and recorded their memories of the...
posted Jun 25th, 2020
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Ask Mr. Coney Island
Dear Mr. Coney Island...
I've been doing a search to find images, pictures and films/video and audio showing the incredible Classic Three Rotating Ring Carousel that I remembered, as a young boy, that was housed in the huge indoor Steeplechase Park. As a young boy in the 1950's I had been amazed at the mechanical complexity of such an amazing machine with its 'Three Counter Rotating Ride Rings', Beautifully Hand Carved and Lovingly Painted Motion and Still Horses, and the Powerful music that came from the Huge Mechanical Full Orchestra and Organ/Calliope. I was born and raised in Brooklyn and Coney Island was a regular venue for our family entertainment. I'm hoping you'll be the one to help restore this childhood amazement to me! Regards, namaste
- David

Hello David,

That would be the El Dorado Carousel, now located at Toshimaen Amusement Park in Tokyo. This magnificent machine was carved by Hugo Hasse of Leipzig Germany in 1902. In 1910 it was moved to Coney Island and installed in a building Surf Avenue at West Fifth Street. The carousel survived the 1911 Dreamland Fire, blistered but intact. George Tilyou brought the El Dorado to...
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