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Old Coney Island: Interesting Historical Photos Show What Coney Island Looked Like In the 1900s

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Coney Island is a New York City neighbourhood entertainment area. The first resort “Brighton Beach” was built in 1868. After that, several hotels and attraction points were built that attracted thousands of people from different social classes. With the development of railroads at the beginning of the 20th century, Coney Island turned from a resort into an easily accessible entertainment area. It was once the largest amusement area in the country, famous for its technological innovations such as electric lights and roller coasters and baby incubators. After World War II, the popularity of the area began to decline; several structures were torn down. In 1964, the last reaming large amusement park, Steeplechase Park, was closed and demolished. High crime rates, insufficient parking facilities, bad weather, lack of continuous-advancement and several events like the World’s Fair and the opening of Disneyland were the major contributing factors in the decline of the visitors. The restoration started in the late 1970s, and today Coney Island is the most popular tourist destination of New York City.

Here below we have compiled a list of historical photos of old Coney Island from the early 20th century that show Historic Luna Park and other attraction points of Coney Island.

#1 Mardi Gras parade, Coney Island, New York circa 1913

Mardi Gras parade, Coney Island, New York circa 1913

5 Points
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#2 Dreamland Park at night, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Dreamland Park at night, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

4 Points
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#4 Johnstown Flood, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Johnstown Flood, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

2 Points
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#9 Luna Park promenade, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Luna Park promenade, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

1 Point
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#11 Dreamland Park at Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Dreamland Park at Coney Island, New York circa 1905

1 Point
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#13 Picnicing on the beach, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Picnicing on the beach, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

1 Point
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#15 Luna Park circle swing, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Luna Park circle swing, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

1 Point
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#17 Dreamland Park, Air Ship Building, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

Dreamland Park, Air Ship Building, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

1 Point
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#18 The Great Coal Mine, Coney Island, New York circa 1901

The Great Coal Mine, Coney Island, New York circa 1901

1 Point
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#19 Main tower, Luna Park, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Main tower, Luna Park, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

1 Point
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#22 The Helter Skelter, Luna Park, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

The Helter Skelter, Luna Park, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

1 Point
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#23 Galveston Flood, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

Galveston Flood, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

1 Point
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#24 Whirl of the Whirl, Luna Park, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Whirl of the Whirl, Luna Park, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

1 Point
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#25 People enjoying at the Beach, Coney Island, New York, circa 1904

People enjoying at the Beach, Coney Island, New York, circa 1904

1 Point
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#26 Two strings to her beaux, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Two strings to her beaux, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

1 Point
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#27 Dreamland Ballroom, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Dreamland Ballroom, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

1 Point
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#28 Bulldog on the beach, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Bulldog on the beach, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

1 Point
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#30 Miniature railway, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Miniature railway, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

1 Point
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#31 Firefigthers fighting the flames, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Firefigthers fighting the flames, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

1 Point
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#33 The miniature railway, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

The miniature railway, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

1 Point
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#36 Dreamland at twilight, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Dreamland at twilight, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

1 Point
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#37 Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, New York circa 1903

Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, New York circa 1903

1 Point
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#38 South end of Bowery, Coney Island, New York, August 1903

South end of Bowery, Coney Island, New York, August 1903

1 Point
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#42 The Cake Walk at Luna Park on Coney Island, June 13, 1911

The Cake Walk at Luna Park on Coney Island, June 13, 1911

1 Point
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#44 Surf Avenue on Coney Island, with Feltman’s Clam Bake on the left, 1913

Surf Avenue on Coney Island, with Feltman's Clam Bake on the left, 1913

1 Point
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#45 Visitors stroll on the boardwalk at Dreamland, Coney Island, 1904

Visitors stroll on the boardwalk at Dreamland, Coney Island, 1904

1 Point
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#46 Aftermath of the Dreamland amusement park fire at Coney Island, 1911

Aftermath of the Dreamland amusement park fire at Coney Island, 1911

1 Point
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#47 Dreamland Park, Shooting the Chutes, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Dreamland Park, Shooting the Chutes, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

0 Points
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#50 On the beach at Coney Island, New York circa 1905

On the beach at Coney Island, New York circa 1905

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#51 Bostock, Dreamland, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Bostock, Dreamland, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

0 Points
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#52 The goat carriages, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

The goat carriages, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

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#54 Bon temps New York style, Coney Island Mardi Gras, 1908

Bon temps New York style, Coney Island Mardi Gras, 1908

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#55 A husky bunch, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

A husky bunch, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

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#56 Capt. Riley and lifeguards, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Capt. Riley and lifeguards, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

0 Points
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#57 Surf bathing at Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Surf bathing at Coney Island, New York circa 1905

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#58 The goat carriages, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

The goat carriages, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

0 Points
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#59 Balmer’s bathing beach, Coney Island, New York circa 1908

Balmer's bathing beach, Coney Island, New York circa 1908

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#60 The Submarine Boat, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

The Submarine Boat, Coney Island, New York circa 1904

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#61 Night in Luna Park, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Night in Luna Park, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

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#62 The sport of kings with a little rodeo and demo derby thrown in, Coney Island, 1913

The sport of kings with a little rodeo and demo derby thrown in, Coney Island, 1913

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#65 On the beach at New York’s Coney Island circa 1910-1915

On the beach at New York's Coney Island circa 1910-1915

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#66 The Teaser, a ride at Coney Island’s Luna Park, 1911

The Teaser, a ride at Coney Island's Luna Park, 1911

0 Points
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#67 Fighting the Flames, Dreamland, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

Fighting the Flames, Dreamland, Coney Island, New York circa 1905

-1 Points
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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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