The Coney Island History Project, or CIHP, founded in 2004, is a

not-for-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

that works to record and increase awareness of

Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...

's history.

Oral history project

The Coney Island History Project was founded in 2004 by Carol Hill Albert and Jerome Albert in honor of Dewey Albert, creator of

Astroland Astroland was a amusement park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City that first opened in 1962. It was located at 1000 Surf Avenue (at the corner of West 10th Street) on the boardwalk. It ceased operations on September 7, 2008. History Astr ...

. Since its inception, Carol Hill and Jerome Albert tapped local historian Charles Denson as director of the Coney Island History Project. The project began as an

oral history Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people wh ...

project, collecting stories of Coney Island from longtime local residents. The ''Coney Island History Project'' records, archives, and shares oral history interviews about Coney Island. The CIHP conducts interviews in English, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish. During the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

, the CIHP continued to record interviews via phone or Skype. Over 370 interviews are available online vi
The Coney Island History Project Oral History Archive

Exhibitions

The History Project’s exhibition center is located next to

Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is a family-owned amusement park located at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. It features six adult rides and 16 kiddie rides, including a dozen family rides that parents and children can ride together. Th ...

. The center occupies a former arcade booth, presenting educational exhibitions, events, and performances; displaying historic artifacts and documentary material from Coney Island's history. The collection holds many artifacts of

, including an authentic

Steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

horse, part of Steeplechase Park. In 2014, the history project presented an exhibition on the history of the Steeplechase Face. In 2018, the Coney Island History Project presented an exhibition examining the history of Coney Island Creek. After the exhibit, the History Project has presented mobile exhibitions on the Coney Island Creek including one at City of Water Day on the Coney Island Creek in Kaiser Park, co-hosted with the

Coney Island Beautification Project Coney Island Beautification Project is an environmentally focused civic organization formed after Hurricane Sandy to involve the Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the ...

and the

Waterfront Alliance The Waterfront Alliance or Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance (MWA) is a nonprofit organization that works to influence the development and use of the waterfront, shoreline, and connected upland areas of the Port of New York and New Jersey in northe ...

Guided tours

The Coney Island History Project offers guided tours of Coney Island. In 2019, the CIHP offered an immigrant Heritage Tour of Coney Island in English and Mandarin. The special

walking tour A walking tour is a tour of a historical or cultural site undertaken on foot, frequently in an urban setting. Short tours can last under an hour, while longer ones can take in multiple sites and last a full day or more. A walk can be led by a tou ...

was offered free of charge as part of Immigrant Heritage Week 2019.

References

External links

CONEYOLOGIST - youtube channel presented by the CIHP

Coney Island History Project - Oral History Archive
{{Historical societies in New York City, state=autocollapse Coney Island Historians of New York City Historical society museums in New York City History of New York City Online archives of the United States Oral historians Oral history Amusement museums in the United States 2004 establishments in New York City