For those park history buffs and miniature ride buffs:
Until further notice (as in they haven't announced how long the exhibit is running), the Cincinnati Historical Society Museum (located at the Cincinnati Museum Center in historic Union Terminal) is running an exhibit entitled "Cincinnati in Motion". The premise of the exhibit is to present a model of Cincinnati based on the 1940's
In one of the diplay cases is a tableux based on Coney Island: America's Finest Amusement Park. It shows the main midway of the former amusement park complete with operating rides. Yep the Tumble Bug goes around, the Dodgems cars move, the Ferris Wheel turns, the wooden rollercoaster runs, (I do question the accuracy of the exhibit as the placard identifes the coaster as the Wildcat, however a simple out-and-back wooden coaster is presneted in the display, which is aimed the wrong way, and doesn't have a helix, so its not the Shooting Star either, the Clipper was all about turns, so I'm running out of ideas on what it could have been) even the Flying Skooters fly, however there are no ACE pilots aboard as the Skooters merely circle the center much like a Wave Swinger. Also included are a Traver Circle Ship ride, and the Carousel. (Of course some other associated buildings as well as the midway landscaping can be seen, as well as a detailed miniature of the Island Queen, but you're all about rides)
The exhibit did give me the feeling that a new generation will never get to know some of the classics as I heard quite a few kids ask their parents "What's a Tumble Bug?", and looking at the Traver Circle Ship Ride (Which never used rockets at Coney, instead different forms of aircraft were used in different eras) and saying "That ride looks like fun"
The exhbit also includes the Cincinnti Zoo, Crosley Field, Union Terminal, Ivorydale, Over-The-Rhine, the Downtown area, as well as a side feature on the Inclines of Cincinnati (also animated).
For those interested, its at Cincinnati's Union Terminal (Museum Center), which is open 10-5 daily, with admission packages starting at $6.75. (Parking is $4.00, "You know you are a park nut when you see a $4 parking fee and remark at how reasonable it is")
(Until Oct 27 the same museum is having their Family Oriented G-rated BooFest which ends at the "Haloween Carnival" there is a kiddie train ride there, but thats it for rides.)
Only bad thing is I forgot my videocamera as I had gone to the museum center for a different exhibit, so I'll have to pny up another $6.75 to videotape this thing, "for personal use only" according to the rules of the house.
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David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville
*** This post was edited by Coasterville Dave on 10/7/2002. ***
David,
That display was in the museum when I visited almost two years ago. It should be there a while.
Perhaps the coaster model is of the Teddy Bear.
Shaggy
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Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
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Bill Yost
"I never rode a B&M I didn't like.":)
http://www.small-business-webs.com/pkizone
Tells you how often I visit there, I of course went for another attraction, and once you pay for one attraction any additional attractions can be added-on for $3 each. Touring the model city was pretty much a way to eat time waiting for my Omnimax time to arrive.
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David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville
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