Steeplechase Park: 1897-1964

"Don't be a gloomster...be a Steeplechaser!"

          Steeplechase Park is one of the most famous (and most influential) amusement parks in the industry's history. The owner, George C. Tilyou, was P.T. Barnum, Rockefeller and Teddy Roosevelt all rolled into one. The documentary Coney Island by Ric Burns and Richard Snow called Tilyou the, "first impresario of controlled chaos." His park was a unique place as rich and poor & male and female patrons all mingled together within the walls. The park opened in 1897 and its feature attraction was the Steeplechase Ride, a horse race which wound around the Pavilion of Fun.

Steeplechase Park was the heart of Coney, watching the island through good and bad times from the late 1800's to the mid-Sixties. These pages will look at some postcards of the park, most from its heyday. Above is the entrance to the park from Surf Avenue. Clockwise: in the distance the great glass and steel shed called the Pavilion of Fun, behind it lies the Revolving Air Ship Tower, to the right of that is the Tilyou family's ferris wheel, the large arm is the Giant See Saw and the tower nearest the street is a circle swing.

Steeplechase Park was the heart of Coney, watching the island through good and bad times from the late 1800's to the mid-Sixties. These pages will look at some postcards of the park, most from its heyday. Above is the entrance to the park from Surf Avenue. Clockwise: in the distance the great glass and steel shed called the Pavilion of Fun, behind it lies the Revolving Air Ship Tower, to the right of that is the Tilyou family's ferris wheel, the large arm is the Giant See Saw and the tower nearest the street is a circle swing.

 

Steeplechase faces Surf Avenue on a quiet morning.  From left to right we see the gate (note the horses on top), the ferris wheel through the gate, the Giant See-Saw and a swinging ship.

 

This is the entrance to the park from the Boardwalk. To the right of the "Steeplechase" sign is the Flying Turns (it is the barrel-shaped object) and next to that is a large billboard for the ride. The sheer numbers of people that used to visit Coney Island on weekends is astounding.
This is the entrance to the park from the Boardwalk. To the right of the "Steeplechase" sign is the Flying Turns (it is the barrel-shaped object) and next to that is a large billboard for the ride. The sheer numbers of people that used to visit Coney Island on weekends is astounding.

 

Steeplechase, like the rest of Coney, was a different world at night. Here we see the circle swings on the left, the Pavilion of Fun in the middle and the parachute drop behind it. The Pavilion of Fun was built in 1907 after the park burned to the ground. George Tilyou put many of the rides (the Human Roulette Wheel, the Hoop-La, etc.) indoors, making Steeplechase impervious to the weather. The very top of the pavilion reads, "George C. Tilyou's Steeplechase Park." The middle of the pavilion reads "Pavilion of Fun. Geo. C. Tilyou's Steeplechase Park." The large face on the building was the park's mascot and could be found all over the park.

Steeplechase, like the rest of Coney, was a different world at night. Here we see the circle swings on the left, the Pavilion of Fun in the middle and the parachute drop behind it. The Pavilion of Fun was built in 1907 after the park burned to the ground. George Tilyou put many of the rides (the Human Roulette Wheel, the Hoop-La, etc.) indoors, making Steeplechase impervious to the weather. The very top of the pavilion reads, "George C. Tilyou's Steeplechase Park." The middle of the pavilion reads "Pavilion of Fun. Geo. C. Tilyou's Steeplechase Park." The large face on the building was the park's mascot and could be found all over the park.

 

The street here is Surf Avenue and the view is looking East. The circle swings are inside Steeplechase and a bit of the pavilion can be seen peeking through the swing's structure. I believe the cupola in the distance belongs to the Giant Coaster. Just below and to the left of that there is a large sign for Henderson's dance hall. For reference, Henderson's is across Stillwell Avenue from Nathan's Famous.

The street here is Surf Avenue and the view is looking East. The circle swings are inside Steeplechase and a bit of the pavilion can be seen peeking through the swing's structure. I believe the cupola in the distance belongs to the Giant Coaster. Just below and to the left of that there is a large sign for Henderson's dance hall. For reference, Henderson's is across Stillwell Avenue from Nathan's Famous. Click here to see Henderson's today.

 

TThe entrance to Steeplechase from the Bowery. Here the Funny Staircase (a set of stairs where either side went in alternating directions) guides visitors into the park. Look at the crowds of people who are in the Bowery and entering the exciting world of Steeplechase.

To the right is a view of the park from the fifties, celebrating the Island like only Steeplechase could.
The entrance to Steeplechase from the Bowery. Here the Funny Staircase (a set of stairs where either side went in alternating directions) guides visitors into the park. Look at the crowds of people who are in the Bowery and entering the exciting world of Steeplechase. To the right is a view of the park from the fifties, celebrating the Island like only Steeplechase could.


Visit Steeplechase!

Go inside Steeplechase

Tour the grounds & pool

Ride The Steeplechase horse race

See Coney from the Parachute Jump

 

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Adam Sandy, Copyright 2002.