509:
371:
Philadelphia (1898 - it was also known as
Chestnut Hill Park) and Cleveland (1900). Soon, some long-established parks changed their names to White City upon the addition of amusement rides and a midway (Seattle, for example). As the American amusement park was increasing in popularity in the first few years of the 1900s, the success of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition (particularly its "Trip to the Moon" ride, featuring "Luna Park") led to the first Luna Park in Coney Island in 1903... and an explosion of nearly identical amusement parks soon followed. There were roughly 250 amusements operating in the United States in 1899; the number almost tripled (700) by 1905; and more than doubled again (to 1500) by 1919 - and these latter figures do not include the amusement parks that were opened and permanently closed by then.
459:
114:
335:
97:. Many cities had two (or all three) of the Electric Park/Luna Park/White City triumvirate in their vicinity... with each trying to outdo the others with new attractions. The competition was fierce, often driving the electric parks out of business due to increased cost due to equipment upgrades and upkeep and increasing insurance costs. More than a few succumbed to fire. Only one park that was given the White City name continues to operate today:
423:
209:
240:'s attempt to become an official Columbian Exhibition exhibitor). The World's Fair was destined to be remembered primarily for two ironic visions, that of the crowds at the Midway Plaisance (which essentially was the first modern amusement park with its entertainment, including exhibitions of boxer
362:
long before starting his Luna Park chain in 1905) were being erected in a frenetic pace (over a quarter century period, the
Ingersoll Construction Company, erected more than eleven roller coasters per year). Railway companies, noticing the popularity of Midway Plaisance of the Columbian Exposition
370:
As the end of the 19th century approached, a few exhibition parks - those inspired by the exhibits and midways of either the
Columbian Exposition or the (later) Pan-American Exposition - started to appear. Before the end of the year 1900, White City amusement parks were making their appearance in
278:
ride that wasn't present in the
Columbian Exposition, but would soon become a staple of amusement parks to come. Paul Boyton's Water Chutes was the first amusement to charge admission when it opened in 1894; inspired by the immediate success of his Chicago park (500,000 people visiting it in its
402:
of the West" from its inception throughout the 1910s. Although the official use of the White City moniker was largely discontinued by the 1920s, members of the local populace continued to refer to the park as "White City," and a number of the park's 1908 structures and attractions remain.
338:
Postcard view of
Chicago's White City amusement park. The 300-foot-tall Electric Tower was one of the highlights of "the city of a million electric lights" that could be seen from 15 miles away.
378:
in
Chicago was not the first one of that name, it was certainly one of the most fondly remembered. Within years of its 1905 founding, dozens of White City parks dotted the United States (with
270:
While
Steeplechase Park eventually became one of the earliest embodiments of an amusement park, Chicago had one to replace Midway Plaisance a year after the close of the Columbian Exposition,
611:
542:
367:
as an effort to improve their bottom line. Power companies were starting to partner with railroad companies to create electric trolley companies... and construct
Electric Parks.
271:
232:) occupying the main court. While White City gave the park its visual identity, the throngs who attended the Columbian Exposition tended to collect at the Midway Plaisance (and
1059:
290:
Foretelling a fate similar to most amusement parks that followed, Paul Boyton's Water Chutes went out of business in 1908, in the face of increasing competition, mainly
569:
548:
530:
483:
342:
In the half decade after the end of the
Columbian Exposition, the American concept of the amusement park was starting to take hold, with the increased popularity of
696:
680:
575:
501:
463:
617:
554:
629:
605:
471:
1238:
676:
623:
593:
587:
536:
515:
489:
291:
632:, New Jersey (1907–1920) - also known as Capital Park, White City was built in Spring Lake Park (opened in 1895 with picnic area and merry-go-round)
251:, its games and its rides) and the architecture of the (far less popular) White City. Much of the Midway Plaisance reappeared in Coney Island's
322:, who operated "A Trip to the Moon" in both Buffalo and Steeplechase Park. Thompson and Dundy quickly redesigned Sea Lion Park and redubbed it
508:
398:. Built and opened in 1908 just outside the Denver, Colorado city limits, Lakeside Park was advertised as "Denver's White City" and "The
386:
having namesakes built by the 1910s). Although most White City parks were out of business by the end of the United States involvement in
551:, Texas - official name: Rosen Heights Amusement Park. Opened 1905; last structure standing (pavilion) destroyed by fire, 17 June 1933
673:; became amusement park 1907 (closed in 1928); track and stadium built 1930, closed 1982 (demolished in 1980s) Now a shopping center.
267:'s Steeplechase Park instead... along with a sign that stated "On this site will be erected the world's largest Ferris Wheel").
644:
391:
758:
430:
1216:
1196:
1153:
1099:
1079:
1048:
1028:
1008:
941:
910:
860:
837:
802:
782:
731:
150:
394:
survived until 1960. Of the White City amusement parks, only one survives, the last exhibition park still standing:
233:
1304:
126:
118:
43:
1133:
1121:
1110:
666:
399:
323:
51:
1261:
626:, Ohio (1905-1915) This park was purchased by the city of Toledo in 1915, and became what is now Jermain Park.
279:
first year of operation), he moved (and expanded) Water Chutes in 1896, a year after he started the similar
216:
While the Midway
Plaisance became the Exposition's main drawing card, it was not the primary purpose of the
46:
of 1893, the parks started gaining in popularity in the last few years of the 19th century. After the 1901
390:, a few survived into the middle third of the 20th century. The Chicago White City lasted until 1946; the
1310:
684:
466:, one of several amusement parks operating in the Ohio city in the first decade of the Twentieth Century.
166:
1164:
885:
434:
599:
560:
319:
1278:
657:
212:
Ferris wheel at the World's Columbian Exposition. White City can be seen behind it and to the right.
1326:
581:
872:
635:
525:
477:
395:
355:
295:
98:
74:
47:
873:"Jefferson County, Colorado Genealogy and History - presented by Genealogy Trails History Group"
173:
just the year before), and the debut of several kinds of foods in the United States, including
133:
attracted 26 million visitors and featured a section that is now commonly considered the first
58:, a frenzy in building amusement parks (including those to be named White City, Luna Park, and
1111:
Queenie the elephant causes pandemonium at Seattle's White City amusement park on May 28, 1909
201:
exposed millions of people to a new form of music and instantly became a staple for fairs and
113:
248:
495:
375:
256:
8:
521:
351:
334:
260:
162:
102:
1250:
750:
661:
94:
952:
1239:
Remembering White City: But a stone's throw from Old Trafford a White City once stood
1212:
1192:
1149:
1095:
1075:
1044:
1024:
1004:
975:
937:
906:
856:
833:
798:
778:
754:
727:
690:
564:
315:
299:
252:
237:
236:, which set up shop just outside the park grounds after the fair's founders rejected
65:
Like their Luna Park and Electric Park cousins, a typical White City park featured a
1227:
1175:
670:
359:
343:
275:
241:
142:
78:
66:
39:
744:
518:, Ohio (1907–1910); grounds flooded in 1913, then became Island MetroPark in 1914
347:
217:
23:
921:
220:
in the eyes of its founders, who pictured it to be the beginning of a classical
383:
178:
154:
134:
70:
31:
255:
by the end of 1897 (but not the Ferris wheel, which had been committed to the
1320:
311:
280:
245:
138:
82:
59:
27:
294:
inspired by the Columbian Exposition in Chicago ("White City") and the 1901
1189:
Popular Culture in London c. 1890-1918: The Transformation of Entertainment
364:
307:
284:
198:
182:
158:
146:
86:
55:
660:, United Kingdom (1908–1914), in Shepherd's Bush, park opened to host the
193:
pancake mix. The Zoopraxographical Hall was the first commercial theater.
387:
264:
221:
190:
186:
963:
458:
379:
303:
174:
35:
1313:- lists many uses of the name, mainly not related to amusement parks
1307:- White City exhibit that inspired its use as an amusement park name
1021:
Strangers and Sojourners: A History of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula
202:
90:
1209:
Played in Manchester: The Architectural Heritage of a City at Play
411:
The following is a list of amusement parks that have had the name
415:
in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
194:
130:
363:
and the lack of railroad ridership on the weekends, constructed
329:
225:
208:
170:
964:
Southwest Ohio Amusement Park Historical Society: White City
724:
The American Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster
602:, Pennsylvania (1898–1911), also known as Chestnut Hill Park
1072:
Suburb in the City: Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, 1850-1990
847:
845:
669:, United Kingdom (1907–1928) - originally open 1827 as a
504:, Ohio (1900–1908), reopened 1909 as Cleveland Beach Park
310:
owned and operated by railroads and electric companies ("
101:, opened in 1908, was originally advertised and known as
1060:
University of Louisville Libraries: Digital Collections
1001:
North of the River: A Brief History of North Fort Worth
62:) ensued in the first two decades of the 20th century.
1092:
The Philadelphia Area Architecture of Horace Trumbauer
842:
157:(Thomas Rankin's Snow and Ice Railway, later moved to
406:
326:, which quickly added to the legend of Coney Island.
169:
had completed the first power plant with AC power in
851:
Dale Samuelson, AJP Samuelson, and Wendy Yegoiants,
354:
providing many parks - many of long standing - with
824:
822:
820:
818:
816:
814:
812:
810:
651:
486:, New York (1902–1910), also called Wagner's Park
1318:
1122:Playland -- Seattle's Amusement Park (1930-1961)
807:
718:
716:
714:
712:
1039:David J. Bodenhamer and Robert Graham Barrows,
350:(with roller coaster designer and entrepreneur
263:: a smaller version was built and installed in
679:, New South Wales (1913–1917), became site of
1134:Historical Postcards of Springfield, Missouri
709:
512:Dip the dips, White City, Toledo, Ohio, 1910s
330:White City parks and the amusement park boom
934:Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards
314:"). In 1901, Boyton sold Sea Lion Park to
1279:"Lost Sydney: White City Amusement Park"
886:Residents sought weekend solace at parks
563:, Indiana (26 May 1906-26 June 1908) at
524:, Colorado (1908–present) also known as
507:
457:
333:
207:
112:
980:Excelsior Springs Museum & Archives
693:, Western Australia (circa 1914 - 1929)
161:), lighting and attractions powered by
16:Early 20th-century amusement park model
1319:
645:White City (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts)
638:, Connecticut (1903-?), also known as
742:
464:Cleveland's White City amusement park
189:chewing gum, and pancakes made using
1023:(Wayne State University Press 1994)
417:
1191:(Manchester University Press 2001)
1074:(Ohio State University Press 1992)
13:
1228:History of White City (Manchester)
903:Broome County in Vintage Postcards
901:Ed Aswad and Suzanne M. Meredith,
777:(W. W. Norton & Company 2001)
612:White City (Springfield, Missouri)
407:List of White City amusement parks
14:
1338:
922:Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
775:America's Musical Life: A History
228:buildings (collectively known as
224:featuring electrically-lit white
151:George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.
93:. Some White City parks featured
38:. Inspired by the White City and
1043:(Indiana University Press 1994)
1041:The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis
453:
421:
22:is the common name of dozens of
1283:www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au
1271:
1255:
1244:
1232:
1221:
1201:
1181:
1169:
1158:
1138:
1127:
1115:
1104:
1084:
1064:
1053:
1033:
1013:
993:
968:
957:
946:
926:
915:
125:The enormously successful 1893
895:
879:
865:
855:(MBI Publishing Company 2001)
787:
767:
736:
667:White City, Greater Manchester
652:Britain, Canada, and Australia
543:White City (Excelsior Springs)
153:), a forerunner of the modern
1:
795:Amusement Parks of New Jersey
703:
687:opened 1922, demolished 2022)
234:Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
1305:World's Columbian Exposition
127:World's Columbian Exposition
119:World's Columbian Exposition
44:World's Columbian Exhibition
7:
1298:
1251:White City Tennis Club page
1176:Pictures of White City Park
953:History of Island MetroPark
853:The American Amusement Park
830:Amusement Parks of New York
647:, Massachusetts (1905–1960)
167:Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti
10:
1343:
1178:- Amusement Park Nostalgia
1148:(Arcadia Publishing 2005)
1094:(Arcadia Publishing 2009)
936:(Arcadia Publishing 2002)
905:(Arcadia Publishing 2000)
272:Paul Boyton's Water Chutes
197:composed and performed by
600:White City (Philadelphia)
561:White City (Indianapolis)
108:
1211:(English Heritage 2004)
746:The Man Who Stopped Time
608:, Washington (1888–1911)
582:White City (New Orleans)
480:, Washington (1906–1912)
356:figure 8 roller coasters
306:") and the emergence of
1146:Baseball in Springfield
832:(Stackpole Books 2006)
797:(Stackpole Books 2004)
636:White City (West Haven)
584:, Louisiana (1907–1913)
570:White City (Louisville)
549:White City (Fort Worth)
531:White City (Des Moines)
526:Lakeside Amusement Park
484:White City (Binghamton)
478:White City (Bellingham)
396:Lakeside Amusement Park
296:Pan-American Exposition
99:Lakeside Amusement Park
48:Pan-American Exposition
1165:Hamilton/Trenton Marsh
932:Diane DeMali Francis,
697:White City (Vancouver)
681:White City Tennis Club
640:White City, Savin Rock
620:, New York (1906–1915)
590:, New York (1906–1918)
576:White City (Milwaukee)
572:, Kentucky (1907–1912)
513:
502:White City (Cleveland)
498:, Illinois (1905–1946)
467:
339:
213:
122:
1266:Sydney Morning Herald
743:Clegg, Brian (2007).
726:(Popular Press 1987)
618:White City (Syracuse)
555:White City (Houghton)
511:
461:
337:
211:
145:), the world's first
116:
1090:Rachel Hildebrandt,
630:White City (Trenton)
606:White City (Seattle)
496:White City (Chicago)
472:White City (Atlanta)
435:adding missing items
1070:David R. Contosta,
1019:Arthur W. Thurner,
677:White City (Sydney)
658:White City (London)
624:White City (Toledo)
596:, Illinois (1943-?)
594:White City (Peoria)
588:White City (Oswego)
537:White City (Duluth)
522:White City (Denver)
516:White City (Dayton)
352:Frederick Ingersoll
163:alternating current
103:Denver's White City
95:miniature railroads
50:inspired the first
1268:, 15 December 2003
773:Richard Crawford,
751:Joseph Henry Press
699:, British Columbia
691:White City (Perth)
662:1908 Olympic Games
514:
490:White City (Boise)
468:
433:; you can help by
340:
320:Elmer "Skip" Dundy
214:
123:
117:White City of the
1124:- historylink.org
1003:(TCU Press 1994)
892:, 20 October 2003
890:Bellingham Herald
760:978-0-309-10112-7
722:Robert Cartmell,
565:Broad Ripple Park
462:Postcard view of
451:
450:
316:Frederic Thompson
257:1904 World's Fair
253:Steeplechase Park
238:Buffalo Bill Cody
1334:
1293:
1292:
1290:
1289:
1275:
1269:
1259:
1253:
1248:
1242:
1236:
1230:
1225:
1219:
1205:
1199:
1187:Andrew Horrall,
1185:
1179:
1173:
1167:
1162:
1156:
1142:
1136:
1131:
1125:
1119:
1113:
1108:
1102:
1088:
1082:
1068:
1062:
1057:
1051:
1037:
1031:
1017:
1011:
999:J'Nell L. Pate,
997:
991:
990:
988:
987:
976:"Vertical Files"
972:
966:
961:
955:
950:
944:
930:
924:
919:
913:
899:
893:
883:
877:
876:
869:
863:
849:
840:
826:
805:
791:
785:
771:
765:
764:
740:
734:
720:
671:botanical garden
446:
443:
425:
424:
418:
344:shoot-the-chutes
292:exhibition parks
276:shoot-the-chutes
242:John L. Sullivan
149:(constructed by
143:Midway Plaisance
79:mountain railway
67:shoot-the-chutes
42:sections of the
40:Midway Plaisance
1342:
1341:
1337:
1336:
1335:
1333:
1332:
1331:
1327:Amusement parks
1317:
1316:
1301:
1296:
1287:
1285:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1262:White City Blue
1260:
1256:
1249:
1245:
1237:
1233:
1226:
1222:
1206:
1202:
1186:
1182:
1174:
1170:
1163:
1159:
1144:Rusty D. Aton,
1143:
1139:
1132:
1128:
1120:
1116:
1109:
1105:
1089:
1085:
1069:
1065:
1058:
1054:
1038:
1034:
1018:
1014:
998:
994:
985:
983:
974:
973:
969:
962:
958:
951:
947:
931:
927:
920:
916:
900:
896:
884:
880:
871:
870:
866:
850:
843:
827:
808:
792:
788:
772:
768:
761:
741:
737:
721:
710:
706:
654:
456:
447:
441:
438:
422:
409:
360:scenic railways
348:roller coasters
332:
141:(the mile-long
111:
89:, games, and a
24:amusement parks
17:
12:
11:
5:
1340:
1330:
1329:
1315:
1314:
1308:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1294:
1270:
1254:
1243:
1231:
1220:
1207:Simon Inglis,
1200:
1180:
1168:
1157:
1137:
1126:
1114:
1103:
1083:
1063:
1052:
1032:
1012:
992:
967:
956:
945:
925:
914:
894:
878:
864:
841:
806:
786:
766:
759:
735:
707:
705:
702:
701:
700:
694:
688:
674:
664:
653:
650:
649:
648:
642:
633:
627:
621:
615:
609:
603:
597:
591:
585:
579:
573:
567:
558:
552:
546:
540:
534:
528:
519:
505:
499:
493:
487:
481:
475:
455:
452:
449:
448:
428:
426:
408:
405:
392:Worcester park
384:United Kingdom
331:
328:
274:, featuring a
179:shredded wheat
155:roller coaster
135:amusement park
110:
107:
71:roller coaster
69:and lagoon, a
32:United Kingdom
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1339:
1328:
1325:
1324:
1322:
1312:
1309:
1306:
1303:
1302:
1284:
1280:
1274:
1267:
1263:
1258:
1252:
1247:
1241:- betfair.com
1240:
1235:
1229:
1224:
1218:
1217:1-873592-78-7
1214:
1210:
1204:
1198:
1197:0-7190-5783-3
1194:
1190:
1184:
1177:
1172:
1166:
1161:
1155:
1154:0-7385-3359-9
1151:
1147:
1141:
1135:
1130:
1123:
1118:
1112:
1107:
1101:
1100:0-7385-6297-1
1097:
1093:
1087:
1081:
1080:0-8142-0580-1
1077:
1073:
1067:
1061:
1056:
1050:
1049:0-253-31222-1
1046:
1042:
1036:
1030:
1029:0-8143-2396-0
1026:
1022:
1016:
1010:
1009:0-87565-133-X
1006:
1002:
996:
981:
977:
971:
965:
960:
954:
949:
943:
942:0-7385-1997-9
939:
935:
929:
923:
918:
912:
911:0-7385-0447-5
908:
904:
898:
891:
887:
882:
874:
868:
862:
861:0-7603-0981-7
858:
854:
848:
846:
839:
838:0-8117-3262-2
835:
831:
828:Jim Futrell,
825:
823:
821:
819:
817:
815:
813:
811:
804:
803:0-8117-2973-7
800:
796:
793:Jim Futrell,
790:
784:
783:0-393-04810-1
780:
776:
770:
762:
756:
752:
748:
747:
739:
733:
732:0-87972-342-4
729:
725:
719:
717:
715:
713:
708:
698:
695:
692:
689:
686:
682:
678:
675:
672:
668:
665:
663:
659:
656:
655:
646:
643:
641:
637:
634:
631:
628:
625:
622:
619:
616:
613:
610:
607:
604:
601:
598:
595:
592:
589:
586:
583:
580:
577:
574:
571:
568:
566:
562:
559:
556:
553:
550:
547:
544:
541:
538:
535:
532:
529:
527:
523:
520:
517:
510:
506:
503:
500:
497:
494:
491:
488:
485:
482:
479:
476:
473:
470:
469:
465:
460:
454:United States
445:
442:February 2011
436:
432:
429:This list is
427:
420:
419:
416:
414:
404:
401:
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
372:
368:
366:
365:trolley parks
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
336:
327:
325:
321:
317:
313:
312:Electric Park
309:
308:trolley parks
305:
301:
297:
293:
288:
286:
282:
281:Sea Lion Park
277:
273:
268:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
247:
246:exotic dancer
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
210:
206:
204:
200:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
120:
115:
106:
104:
100:
96:
92:
88:
84:
80:
76:
72:
68:
63:
61:
60:Electric Park
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
29:
28:United States
25:
21:
1286:. Retrieved
1282:
1273:
1265:
1257:
1246:
1234:
1223:
1208:
1203:
1188:
1183:
1171:
1160:
1145:
1140:
1129:
1117:
1106:
1091:
1086:
1071:
1066:
1055:
1040:
1035:
1020:
1015:
1000:
995:
984:. Retrieved
982:. 2019-02-19
979:
970:
959:
948:
933:
928:
917:
902:
897:
889:
881:
867:
852:
829:
794:
789:
774:
769:
745:
738:
723:
639:
439:
412:
410:
400:Coney Island
373:
369:
341:
289:
285:Coney Island
269:
249:Little Egypt
229:
218:World's Fair
215:
199:Scott Joplin
183:Cracker Jack
159:Coney Island
147:Ferris wheel
124:
87:Ferris wheel
75:figure eight
64:
56:Coney Island
19:
18:
614:(1907–1912)
578:, Wisconsin
539:, Minnesota
388:World War I
265:Paul Boyton
222:renaissance
191:Aunt Jemima
187:Juicy Fruit
73:(usually a
1311:White City
1288:2022-01-05
986:2022-07-10
704:References
557:, Michigan
545:, Missouri
431:incomplete
413:White City
376:White City
374:While the
230:White City
175:hamburgers
20:White City
474:, Georgia
380:Australia
324:Luna Park
304:Luna Park
261:St. Louis
203:carnivals
52:Luna Park
36:Australia
1321:Category
1299:See also
382:and the
91:pavilion
685:stadium
492:, Idaho
346:rides,
300:Buffalo
195:Ragtime
131:Chicago
26:in the
1215:
1195:
1152:
1098:
1078:
1047:
1027:
1007:
940:
909:
859:
836:
801:
781:
757:
730:
533:, Iowa
226:stucco
171:London
139:midway
121:(1893)
109:Origin
83:midway
34:, and
30:, the
81:), a
77:or a
1213:ISBN
1193:ISBN
1150:ISBN
1096:ISBN
1076:ISBN
1045:ISBN
1025:ISBN
1005:ISBN
938:ISBN
907:ISBN
857:ISBN
834:ISBN
799:ISBN
779:ISBN
755:ISBN
728:ISBN
358:and
318:and
244:and
137:: a
85:, a
437:.
298:in
283:in
259:in
129:in
54:in
1323::
1281:.
1264:-
978:.
888:-
844:^
809:^
753:.
749:.
711:^
302:("
287:.
205:.
185:,
181:,
177:,
105:.
1291:.
989:.
875:.
763:.
683:(
444:)
440:(
165:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
