On June 16, 1884, the first commercial roller coaster in America, known as the Switchback Railway, opened to the public at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. Designed by LaMarcus Adna Thompson, this early thrill ride was quite modest by modern standards, traveling at just six miles per hour, but it sparked America’s interest in amusement parks and roller coasters. The concept quickly spread across the country, leading to the development of more complex and exciting amusement rides, forever changing the landscape of American leisure activities.
