LaMarcus Adna Thompson facts for kids
LaMarcus Thompson (born March 8, 1848 – died May 8, 1919) was a clever American inventor and businessman. He is most famous for creating many different kinds of "gravity rides," which are the early versions of what we now call roller coasters.
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Early Life
LaMarcus Thompson was born in Jersey, Ohio, on March 8, 1848. His parents were Adna and Nancy D. Thompson. He also had a brother named Olvid. When he was a teenager, LaMarcus became a very skilled carpenter.
In 1873, he started a grocery store in Elkhart, Indiana. While running the store, he began to design a machine that could make seamless socks. He earned a lot of money from this business. However, he had to stop working because he wasn't feeling well.
The Father of Roller Coasters
LaMarcus Thompson is best known for his important work in developing early roller coasters. He also invented a type of ride called the "scenic railway." Because of his inventions, he is often called the "Father of the American Roller Coaster" and the "Father of the Gravity Ride."
Over his lifetime, Thompson received almost 30 patents for his roller coaster ideas. One important patent was granted on December 22, 1884, for his "Gravity Switch-back Railway." Thompson's ideas built on earlier inventions and the long history of the roller coaster that used gravity to move rides.
The First Switchback Railway
Thompson's most famous ride was the "Gravity Pleasure Switchback Railway." It opened at Coney Island in 1884. This ride was quite slow, going about 6 miles per hour. A ride cost only 5 cents!
In 1887, Thompson worked with a designer named James A. Griffiths. Together, they opened the Scenic Railway in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The Scenic Railway Concept
Thompson's original idea for the scenic railway was to let riders see beautiful views of the area around them. But later, he made these rides even more exciting. He added detailed painted backgrounds and scenes. This made riders feel like they were traveling through places like the Swiss Alps or other faraway lands.
Thompson was the managing director of the L. A. Thompson Scenic Railway Company, which started in 1895. His scenic railways were extremely popular in the early 1900s. His company even ran six large scenic railways at Coney Island alone during that time. Many dozens of these rides were built across the United States and in Europe.
Eventually, faster and more thrilling roller coasters became popular. New safety technology made these faster rides possible. Because of this, the scenic railway rides slowly became less common.
Thompson passed away at his home in Thompson Park, Glen Cove, Long Island, on May 8, 1919. He was 71 years old.
