Imagine a fun place where everyone from the big city gathers together to ride carnival rides, eat hot dogs and cotton candy, and take a dip in the cool water. This is a place in America that actually exists: Coney Island, New York. Located near Brooklyn, this magical island has been the home to famous hot dogs, fun rides, and years of memory for decades. It’s a place where friends and family can get together and enjoy their visit to New York, and a place where the natives can escape from the hustle and bustle of New York City’s streets.

So how Did Coney Island get its name? There are several different stories. One claims that it was named this because of its many hills, thus describing the island as “coney.” Others say it was named after an Irish captain named Peter O’Conner, while others say it is the sister island of another island located in Ireland. The word Coney actually means “rabbit” in English dialect, and many believe this is the actual origin, since in the early days of settlement, there was a huge rabbit population there. Originally, the island was used as a railway station to transport goods through the island and into New York. Because of the railroads, it brought in hotels, restaurants, and eventually, entertainment venues.

• Coney Island History Site – Background and history of the island

• Coneyisland.com – The official website with information, history, and current events happening there

• The Coney Island History Project – A gathering of old photos, postcards, and memories about the island

• The Early Years – History of the island from 1609-1880

Of course, it wasn’t just the location that made Coney Island famous. The awesome park rides, along with the side shows and freak shows made it a magical place. In the early 1900s, developers decided to make Coney Island more than just a hotel resort area. They decided to add some fun rides, and make it a family place to visit. A boardwalk was added, along with some famous rides including the Wonder Wheel, Cyclone roller coaster, Parachute Jump, and the B&B Carousel. Back in its origination, rides were anywhere from 5-10 cents per ride, and hot dogs and sodas could be purchased for ten to fifteen cents.

Aside from the rides, Coney Island also featured a circus side show. This show would exhibit some of the wildest and weirdest acts from all over the country and the world. People would pay a small fee (anywhere from a penny to a dime) to see the freaks and crazy costumes on display. There is still a sideshow that performs at Coney Island today. A few notable stars of the past include Omar Sami the carnival barker (1910), Ursa the Bear Girl (1911), Lionel the dog-faced boy (1914), and plenty of pairs of famous Siamese twins.

• Coney Freaks – Excellent, in-depth article about the many different freaks that have been on display

• The Cyclone – Official website of the famous roller coaster

• Wonder Wheel – The world famous ferris wheel is still open today

• Rides and Shows List – Complete historical list

• 1940s Freak Show – Old footage of a Coney Island freak show

• Freaks of Yesterday and Today – Pictures and information about the famous freaks of Coney Island

Coney island has many hotels and landmarks that made it famous and still stand today. The rides are of course the most popular landmarks, but there are some other interesting places that make Coney Island unique. The Surf Bath House was an interesting hotel that offered a community bath, as well as bathing suit rentals. The Elephant Hotel and the Sea Beach Palace were also both important places to stay and see the island life. The Manhattan Beach Hotel was another beautiful example of old style Coney Island flair.

• Famous Hotels – Historical information and pictures of old Coney Island hotels

• Beach & Boardwalk – For many decades, the beach on Coney Island along with the boardwalk have brought millions of visitors

• Coney Island Timeline – Includes dates of many famous landmarks being built

• Elephant Hotel – All about the famous hotel

In the 1870s, horse racing became a popular endeavor on Coney Island. The wealthy patrons of that time were clamoring for horse racing, and developer William Engeman was the first to create a track there. Eventually there was an official Jockey Club, and by 1886 three tracks had opened up on the island. Horse racing played a very important role in the success of the island, as it brought many visitors who were well off and were able to spend more money there. Many high rollers would bet there, including Joe Yaeger, Mike Dwyer, Herman Duryea, and many others who would actually place thousands of dollars in bets on the horses. This had a big impact on the development of the island, since the hotel owners, vendors, and other businesses there reaped the benefits.

• Coney Island Horse Racing – A history

• Jockey Club – Brief information about the Coney Island Jockey Club

• Sheepshead Bay – Interesting pictorial history about this area of the island, including information about horse racing