Coney Island History Project facts for kids
Coney Island History Project with the Wonder Wheel in background - 2017
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| Formation | 2004 |
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| Type | Non-profit corporation |
| Headquarters | Coney Island, Brooklyn |
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Director
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Charles Denson |
| Website | coneyislandhistory.org |
The Coney Island History Project, or CIHP, founded in 2004, is a not-for-profit organization that works to record and increase awareness of Coney Island's history.
Oral history project
The CIHP project began as an oral history project, collecting stories of Coney Island from longtime local residents. Since its inception, the Coney Island History Project records, archives, and shares oral history interviews about Coney Island. The CIHP conducted interviews in English, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CIHP continued to record interviews via phone or Skype.
Online Oral History Archive
Over 370 interviews are available online via The Coney Island History Project Oral History Archive.
Exhibition center
The History Project’s exhibition center is located next to Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. 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 Coney Island, including an authentic Steeplechase horse, part of Steeplechase Park.
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 was offered free of charge as part of Immigrant Heritage Week 2019.
