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The Roller Coasters of Glen Echo Amusement Park
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By Tom Fuchs, October 27, 2007 | |
| | | 1. The Roller Coasters of Glen Echo Amusement Park Marker | | |
Inscription.
Roller Coasters.
The first primitive version of a roller coaster called the “Flying Mountain” emerged in Russia in the 1400’s. Americans encountered their first taste of a roller coaster-like thrill ride in 1827 when Josiah White constructed the Mauch Chunk Railway, better known as the Gravity Road. The Gravity Road came to be a thrill ride by accident since its original purpose was to transport coal 9 miles downhill to the town of Mauch Chunk in Pennsylvania. Soon the run became a public attraction with crowds paying 50 cents for a ride (the coaster still delivered coal in the morning). The first modern roller coasters were developed at Coney Island in 1884 by Le Marcus Thompson, who had drawn inspiration from a ride on the Mauch Chunk railway. The coaster was called a switch back and provided more of a scenic tour than a thrilling ride, going only 6 mph. Thompson's $1,600 coaster, however, paid for itself in only 3 weeks! Within months, Thompson had many competitors in the coaster business. Amusement parks and roller coasters flourished throughout the beginning of the 20th century but the Depression caused a rapid decline in the number of parks and coasters. Coaster interest was revitalized thanks to the imaginative mind of Walt Disney. In 1955 Disney commissioned Arrow Development Center to create the very first steel coaster. Not only was Disney responsible for the first steel coaster, but he also developed the very first theme park. Disney pioneered the way for the theme park entrepreneurs who created parks like Six Flags and Busch Gardens. Today theme parks remain the center for roller coaster action where coaster speeds can reach over 80 miles per hour and inversions have become practically necessary.
The Coasters of Glen Echo.
Beginning in the late 19th century trolley companies began constructing trolley parks at the end of lines to attract evening and weekend travelers. Glen Echo opened as an amusement park in 1898 and closed in 1968. During that 70 year period the park was home to 7 different coasters: the Scenic Railway, the Hydraulic Dive, the Dip, the Gravity Railway, the Derby Racer, Coaster Dips and the Comet Jr. Undoubtedly the best known and most frequently remembered ride is Coaster Dips. The ride opened in May of 1921 and was designed by Frank Moore. In an article from the January, 1981 issue of Coaster World the ride is described enticingly, “As the daytime passengers ascend the 72 feet, they were afforded a beautiful view of the Potomac River and its Virginia shore while evening riders were treated to a sight nearly impossible to describe: the mists rising from the river and mingling with the Sycamore trees on the shore.” The coaster drew thousands of visitors to the park and it is even said the ride was frequented by later president Richard Nixon and his two daughters. Unfortunately Glen Echo Park closed in 1968 and the following year Coaster Dips was torn down and burned to the dismay of many park enthusiasts.
Erected by Alexa Shimizu, Volunteer, National Park Service.
Location. 38° 57.981′ N, 77° 8.35′ W. Marker is in Glen Echo, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker is on Macarthur Boulevard ¼ mile from Goldsboro Road. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Glen Echo MD 20812, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 12 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1921 (here, next to this marker); The Changing Face of Glen Echo (a few steps from this marker); Glen Echo Park’s Crystal Pool (a few steps from this marker); Glen Echo From Past to Present (within shouting distance of this marker); The Glen Echo Park Yurts (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1921 (within shouting distance of this marker); Glen Echo Civil Rights Protest (within shouting distance of this marker); c. 1931 (within shouting distance of this marker); c. 1926 (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); Glen Echo’s Art Deco Arcade (about 300 feet away); A Trolley Returns to Glen Echo (about 300 feet away); Trolley Parks In America (about 300 feet away). Click for a list of all markers in Glen Echo.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Credits. This page originally submitted on October 30, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,684 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on October 30, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Period photos of the coasters • Can you help?
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