What Coney Island looked like at the Turn of the 20th Century

The early 20th century marked a transformative era for Coney Island, elevating it from a local leisure spot to a national treasure. Situated on the southernmost tip of Brooklyn, this iconic locale provided a unique blend of exhilarating attractions, quintessentially American fare, and unparalleled ocean vistas. The years surrounding the turn of the century witnessed a surge of innovations and investments that shaped the Coney Island we know today. Join us as we explore the developments that defined Coney Island in the early 1900s.

Luna Park: A Luminous Wonderland

At the dawn of the 20th century, Luna Park opened its gates to the public in 1903, forever changing the amusement park landscape. Designed by Frederic Thompson and Elmer “Skip” Dundy, the creators behind the infamous Trip to the Moon attraction, Luna Park dazzled visitors with its electrically lit architecture and grand attractions. These included the Dragon’s Gorge and the Helter-Skelter slide, both marvels of early 20th-century engineering. With over 250,000 electric lights illuminating the park, Luna Park was often described as an electric Eden, capturing the limitless optimism of the new century.

Nathan’s Famous: The Hot Dog Ascends

While Charles Feltman is credited with introducing the hot dog to Coney Island in the late 19th century, it was Nathan Handwerker who popularized it in the 20th. Opening Nathan’s Famous in 1916, Handwerker revolutionized the culinary scene by offering high-quality frankfurters at just 5 cents each. This iconic establishment quickly gained fame, making the hot dog synonymous with Coney Island. The annual hot dog eating contest, which started in the early 20th century, further embedded Nathan’s—and the hot dog—into Coney Island’s cultural tapestry.

Dreamland: The Illustrious Yet Ill-Fated Amusement Park

Another significant addition to Coney Island’s entertainment sphere was Dreamland, which debuted in 1904. Aimed to be more upscale and refined than its competitors, the park featured ambitious attractions like Venetian canals and a miniature railroad. However, its life was short-lived. In 1911, a massive fire engulfed Dreamland, reducing it to ashes and marking the end of an ambitious chapter in Coney Island’s history. The park’s tragic demise became a poignant reminder of the transience of human endeavors, even in an age of unprecedented optimism and progress.

The Role of Subway Expansion

Subway expansion played an instrumental role in democratizing access to Coney Island. The completion of the subway link in 1920 made the trip from Manhattan to Coney Island faster and more affordable than ever. Now, for a single nickel, visitors could effortlessly escape the confines of urban life and bask in the seaside glory that Coney Island offered. The subway system effectively blurred the lines between classes, making the beach and the amusements accessible to all New Yorkers.

#1 Feltman’s Sign and Ziz Roller Coaster at W 10th & Surf Ave, 1900s

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#2 BRT Railway Depot and Potter’s Candy House, 1900s

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#3 Riccadonna Hotel at Ocean Parkway & Sea Breeze Ave, 1900s

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#4 Zoo Entrance, 1900s

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#5 Young Pirates Posing After Parade, 1900

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#6 Another Group of Young Pirates, 1900

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#7 Barker Inviting Crowd to “Original Turkish Harem,” Circa 1900

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#8 Chute Roller Coaster, 1900

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#9 The Bowery Created by George C. Tilyou, Early 1900s

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#10 Manhattan Beach Hotel View Over Star-Shaped Plantings, 1900s

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#11 Lady Diver Miss Ward in Stereoview Card, 1889

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#12 Beachgoers on a Cold Day, January 1915

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#13 Young Girls and Child at Beach, Circa 1900

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#14 Fun Time for Young Men and Woman at Beach, Circa 1900

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#15 Lifeguards Posing at Beach, Circa 1900

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#16 Albemarle Hotel, Late 1890s

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#17 Beach Scene, 1901-1906

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#18 Another View of the Beach, 1901-1906

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#19 Brighton Beach Hotel, 1901

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#20 Shooting the Rapids, 1901

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#21 Children on Beach, 1901

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#22 Happy Youngsters on Beach, 1901

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#23 Red-Headed Bathing Beauty Contest at Luna Park

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#24 Loop the Loop Ride, 1903

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#25 Watching the ‘Shooting the Chutes’ Ride, 1903

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#26 Bathers in Atlantic Waves, 1903

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#27 Another View of Loop the Loop, 1903

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#28 Steeplechase Park Overview

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#29 Ocean Dip at Coney Island Beach, 1903

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#30 Bathers Enjoying the Ocean at Coney Island Beach, 1903

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#31 Luna Park Illuminated at Night, Between 1903 and 1906

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#32 Brighton Beach Hotel in Brighton Beach, 1903

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#33 Electric Tower Illuminated at Luna Park, 1903

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#34 Firemen Extinguishing a Fire in Coney Island, 1903

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#35 Surf Avenue in Coney Island, 1904

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#36 Dreamland Amusement Park View from Shoot the Chutes, 1904

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#37 Crowd Leading to the Circle Swing at Luna Park, 1904

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#38 Men Delivering Wet Goods to Coney Island Amusement Park, 1904

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#39 Smallest Locomotive Carrying Passengers in Dreamland, 1904

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#40 Women Sharing a Bench in Surf at Coney Island, 1904

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#41 Bathers Playing in the Surf at Coney Island, 1904

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#42 Ride View in Luna Park, Mid-1900s

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#43 Pedestrians and Funhouses Along the Bowery, Mid-1900s

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#44 Slide in Luna Park, 1904

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#45 Children Playing on the Beach, 1904

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#46 Young Men Playing on the Beach, 1904

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#47 Women Bathing in Dresses, 1904

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#48 Children in Goat-Drawn Carriages, 1904

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#49 Men Moving Beer Barrels on Ocean Avenue, 1904

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#50 People Relaxing at the Beach, 1904

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#51 People Swimming at the Beach, 1904

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#52 Young Woman in Swimwear at the Beach, 1904

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#53 Boys Playing in the Water at the Beach, 1904

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#54 Young Woman in Swimwear at the Beach, 1904

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#55 Bathers at the Beach, 1904

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#56 Young Couple at the Beach, 1904

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#57 Young Woman in Swimwear at the Beach, 1904

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#58 Young Woman in Swimwear at the Beach, 1904

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#59 Luna Park Tower Lit Up at Night, September 06

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#60 Luna Park in Coney Island, Circa 1905

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#61 Entrance to Luna Park in Coney Island, Circa 1905

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#62 Dreamland Illuminated at Night, Circa 1905

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#63 Three Friends on the Beach at Coney Island, Circa 1905

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#64 Surf Avenue Bustling with Shops and Tourists, Circa 1905

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#65 Surf Avenue Packed with Revelers and Horse-Drawn Carriages, Circa 1905

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#66 Luna Park’s Bridge of Laughs Attraction, Circa 1905

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#67 Luna Park Illuminated at Night, Circa 1905

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#68 Whirl of the Whirl Amusement Ride at Luna Park, Early 20th Century

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#69 Mont Pelee Amusement Park in Brooklyn, Mid 1900s

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#70 Houses in Manhattan Beach Estates, Mid 1900s

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#71 Sea Cliff Inn in Brooklyn, Mid 1900s

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#72 Entrance to Luna Park in Brooklyn, Mid 1900s

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#73 Illuminated Towers at Night in Luna Park, 1905

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#74 Crowd of Bathers Enjoying Coney Island Beach, 1905

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#75 Overhead View of Coney Island Amusement Parks, 1900s

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#76 Oriental Hotel on Manhattan Beach, 1900s

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#77 Manhattan Beach Hotel Grounds and Porch, 1900s

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#78 Whirl of the Whirl Ride at Luna Park, 1905

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#79 The Old Mill Ride at Luna Park, 1905

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#80 Helter Skelter Ride at Luna Park, 1905

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#81 Loop the Loop Ride at Luna Park, 1905

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#82 Miniature Railway Ride at Luna Park, 1905

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#83 Three Young Girls Wading into the Water, 1905

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#84 Daytime View of Dreamland Amusement Park, July 10

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#85 Nighttime View of Luna Park Lit Up, Circa 1906

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#86 Beachgoers at Coney Island, Mid 1900s

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#87 Loop-the-Loop Ride in Brooklyn, Early 20th Century

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#88 Balmer’s Bathing Pavilion in Brooklyn, Early 20th Century

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#89 Oceanic Hotel on Neptune Avenue, Early 20th Century

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#90 Crowd of Beachgoers at Coney Island, Early 20th Century

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#91 Bathers at Coney Island Beach, 1908

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#92 Luna Park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, 1908

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#93 Luna Park with Attractions: Burning of the Prairie Bell and the Man Hunt, 1908

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#94 Dreamland at Coney Island, Brooklyn, Late 1900s

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#95 Luna Park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, 1908

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#96 Luna Park Highlights: Camera Obscura, Miniature Railroad, Red Mill, and Tickler, 1908

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#97 Luna Park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, 1908

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#98 Luna Park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, 1908

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#99 High-Angle View of Surf Avenue with Entrance to Steeple Chase Park, 1909

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#100 Street in Coney Island District, 1909

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#101 Fun Fair in Coney Island District, 1909

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#102 Beach at Coney Island, 1909

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#103 Over-Dressed Revelers at Coney Island Beach, Early 1910s

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#104 Beachgoers at Coney Island Beach with Manhattan Hotel in Distance, Early 1910s

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#105 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, Street Scene, May 1954

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#106 Child with Tuberculosis Seated Outdoors at Sea Breeze Hospital, Early 1900s

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#107 White World Amusement at Coney Island, Circa 1900

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#108 Submarine Boat Building at Coney Island, Circa 1900

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#109 Young Women Eating Lunch on Coney Island Beach, Circa 1900

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#110 Young Women on Coney Island Beach, Circa 1900

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#111 People Enjoying Ocean Beach at Coney Island, Circa 1900

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#112 Luna Park Lit Up at Night, Circa 1900

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#113 Coney Island Beachgoers, 1900

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#114 Cowboys Playing Wild West Polo on Horses at Coney Island, Circa 1900

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#115 Sterilizable Bathing Suits at Coney Island Beach, Circa 1900

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#116 Waterslide Enthusiast at Coney Island Amusement Park, Circa 1900

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#117 Preacher Exhorts Crowds Amid Revelry at Coney Island, Circa 1900

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#118 Cars Carry Mallet-Wielding Competitors in Polo Game, Circa 1900

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#119 Amusement Rides at Coney Island, Circa 1900

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#120 Throngs at Coney Island Amusement Park, Circa 1900

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#121 Coney Island Boardwalk Crowds, Circa 1900

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#122 Coney Island Ocean Dip, Circa 1900

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#123 Coney Island Surf Crowd, Circa 1900

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#124 Crowds Relaxing on Coney Island Beach, Circa 1900

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#125 Crowds at Luna Park Amusements, Circa 1900

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