Wiktor Wise
Roller coasters have come a long way since their origins in 17th-century Russia, where they were known as 'Russian Mountains' and consisted of slides made of ice. The first electric roller coaster is believed to have been the Big Scenic Coaster, which opened in 1910 at Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey. This roller coaster had an electrified center rail, a human operator, and the ability to move forward or backward over its 4,500 feet of track. The proliferation of trolley parks and the evolution of technology in the 19th and 20th centuries played a significant role in the development of roller coasters, transforming them into the thrilling amusement rides we know today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1884 |
| Inventor | LaMarcus Adna Thompson |
| Location | Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York |
| Track Length | 600 ft (180 m) |
| Track Design | Gravity Switchback Railway with an oval complete circuit |
| Cars | Bench-like |
| Passengers | Climbed to the top of a platform and rode down the track |
| Scenic Railways | Found in amusement parks across the US by the late 1880s |
| First Underfriction Roller Coaster | Developed by John Miller in 1919 |
| First Tubular Steel Track | Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland in 1959 |
| First Inversion | Corkscrew at Knott's Berry Farm in 1975 |
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What You'll Learn
The first electric roller coasters
The history of roller coasters can be traced back to the 17th century, with the invention of the "'Russian Mountains'" in Russia. These were slides made of ice that Russians, particularly those from the upper class, would slide down. Roller coasters, as we know them today, evolved from these ice slides in the 19th century, featuring railroad tracks and wheeled cars. The first permanent roller coaster with a looping track was likely built in Paris in 1846, based on an English design. It featured a single-person wheeled sled running through a 13-foot (4-meter) diameter vertical loop and was known as a centrifugal railway.
In 1884, LaMarcus Adna Thompson introduced the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. This coaster had a 600-foot (180-meter) track, where passengers rode a bench-like car down to the top of a tower, and then switched to a return track for the trip back. The following year, in 1885, Phillip Hinkle introduced the Gravity Pleasure Road, the first complete-circuit coaster with a lift hill, which became a popular attraction at Coney Island. LaMarcus Adna Thompson obtained one of the first-known patents for a roller coaster design in the same year, further developing his Switchback Railway concept.
The late 19th century saw the spread of scenic railways in amusement parks across the United States. The first underfriction roller coaster was developed by John Miller in 1919, allowing for greater speeds and sharper turns. By the mid-20th century, roller coasters intensified with the introduction of steel roller coaster designs and the ability to invert riders. A notable innovation during this period was the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland in 1959, which was the first permanent roller coaster to utilise a tubular steel track, enabling designers to incorporate loops and corkscrews.
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Early roller coasters
The earliest roller coasters were constructed in the 17th century in Russia and were known as "sliding mountains". Made entirely of ice, these early coasters were built in the gardens of palaces around the Russian capital, Saint Petersburg. The first carts were made of hollowed-out blocks of ice pushed down icy hills. This early technology featured sleds or wheeled carts that went down hills reinforced by wooden supports. The rides were popular among the Russian upper class, including Catherine the Great, who constructed a summer version of the ride at her estate in the 18th century.
The first wooden roller coaster was built in 1784 in the gardens of the Oranienbaum Palace near St. Petersburg. This coaster featured grooved tracks and wooden carts with wheels. The technology evolved in the 19th century to feature railroad tracks with wheeled cars that were securely locked to the track.
Roller coasters didn't make it to the US until the late 19th century. The first American roller coaster opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, in 1884. This coaster, known as the Switchback Railway, was inspired by the Mauch Chunk Railroad, a train originally used to haul coal down a steep hill in Pennsylvania. Passengers rode a bench-like car down a 600-foot (180-meter) track to the top of another tower, where the vehicle was switched to a return track for the trip back.
The early 20th century saw innovations such as side friction and underfriction wheel technologies, allowing for greater speeds and sharper turns. By the mid-20th century, steel roller coaster designs were introduced, along with the ability to invert riders. The first modern-day roller coaster with an inverting element opened in 1975 at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.
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Ice slides in Russia
Roller coasters, as we know them today, were invented by LaMarcus Adna Thompson, who obtained one of the first-known patents for a roller coaster design in 1885. However, the origins of roller coasters can be traced back to the 1700s in Russia, where they were known as "Russian Mountains". These early ice slides were made of wooden structures with frozen-over ramps, and riders used sleds made of hollowed-out ice blocks to slide down.
The "Russian Mountains" were especially popular among the upper classes, with Empress Elizabeth and Catherine the Great known to be enthusiasts. Catherine the Great even commissioned her own ice slide at her palace in Oranienbaum on the Gulf of Finland. These slides were often built in public squares and private courtyards, with wooden structures sloping like hills and slickened with ice.
The concept of ice slides spread beyond Russia, with international travellers and World's Fairs bringing awareness of these attractions to other parts of the world. By the 19th century, the idea had migrated across Europe, and the moniker "Russian Mountains" became commonly associated with these types of amusement rides.
Over time, the technology evolved, and the ice slides transitioned into railroad tracks using wheeled cars. This evolution led to the development of the first roller coasters, which became permanent fixtures in amusement parks around the world. Today, roller coasters continue to thrill riders with their speed, sharp turns, and intricate designs, but it all started with the icy slopes of Russia.
Even today, you can still find ice slides at winter festivals in Moscow and other Russian cities, keeping the tradition alive and reminding us of the origins of the modern roller coaster.
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Scenic railways
The roller coaster was first invented in 17th-century Russia, where they were known as "Russian Mountains". These early attractions were primarily for the upper classes and featured sleds or wheeled carts that were sent down hills of ice reinforced by wooden supports.
The term "scenic railways" is used to refer to a few different types of attractions. In the context of roller coasters, scenic railways refer to roller coasters that include dark tunnels with painted scenery. LaMarcus Adna Thompson, who obtained one of the first-known patents for a roller coaster design, introduced the concept of scenic railways to amusement parks across the United States.
In Britain, scenic railways refer to miniature railroads that travel by artificial scenery, often found in amusement parks. One example of this type of scenic railway is the Scenic Railway at Dreamland Margate in Kent, which is the oldest wooden roller coaster in the United Kingdom.
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The roller coaster name
The origins of roller coasters can be traced back to 18th-century Russia, where they were known as "Russian Mountains". These early versions featured sleds or wheeled carts that slid down hills of ice reinforced with wooden supports. The first roller coaster design patent was obtained by LaMarcus Adna Thompson in 1885, based on the Switchback Railway that opened at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, in 1884. This early roller coaster had passengers climb to the top of a platform, where they would ride a bench-like car down a 600-foot track to another tower, with the vehicle then switched to a return track for the trip back.
The name "roller coaster" has several purported origins. One theory suggests it comes from early American designs where slides or ramps were fitted with rollers, over which a sled would coast. Another explanation points to a ride in a roller skating rink in Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1887. Invented by Stephen E. Jackman and Byron B. Floyd, this "Roller Toboggan" ride featured a toboggan-like sled that coasted down a track made of rollers. The inventors claim that they were the first to use the term "roller coaster".
The roller coaster designed by LaMarcus Adna Thompson, known as the Switchback Railway, played a significant role in the evolution of these thrill rides. The original track design was soon replaced with an oval complete circuit, and other innovations followed. In 1885, Phillip Hinkle introduced the Gravity Pleasure Road, the first full-circuit coaster with a lift hill, which became a popular attraction at Coney Island. Thompson, not to be outdone, patented his roller coaster design in 1886, which included dark tunnels with painted scenery, leading to the emergence of Scenic Railways in amusement parks across the United States.
The early 20th century saw further advancements with the introduction of side friction and underfriction wheel technologies, enabling greater speeds and sharper turns. John Miller developed the first underfriction roller coaster in 1919. By the mid-to-late 20th century, steel roller coaster designs became prominent, allowing for inversions and more complex manoeuvres. The Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland in 1959 marked a breakthrough, as the first roller coaster to utilise a tubular steel track. This new track material could be bent in any direction, enabling designers to incorporate loops and corkscrews into their designs.
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Frequently asked questions
The first roller coaster with an electrified center rail was the Big Scenic Coaster at Palisades Amusement Park, which opened in 1910.
The Big Scenic Coaster had a human operator and could move forward and backward over its 4,500 feet of track.
Coney Island had third-rail coasters, too. One of their rides, the Rough Riders, was erected in tribute to the Spanish-American War.
In 1959, the Disneyland theme park introduced a new design breakthrough with Matterhorn Bobsleds, the first permanent roller coaster to use a tubular steel track. Unlike conventional wooden rails, tubular steel can be bent in any direction, allowing designers to incorporate loops, corkscrews, and other maneuvers.
Roller coasters originated from "Russian Mountains", which were slides made of ice that first appeared in 17th-century Russia. Early technology featured sleds or wheeled carts that went down hills of ice reinforced by wooden supports.
