John Paul M. Joaquin Culture 07.11.2022 08:Jul AM EDT

Did You Know That the First Roller Coaster in the US Opened 138 Years Ago?

Roller coasters are for the thrill-seeking amusement park junkie who wants to get a healthy dose of adrenaline straight from the body itself or the casual visitor that wants to try it now and then.

How can they not? it brings the thrill of being in the air without putting themselves and everyone else in danger (if they follow the rules), and it is a fun way of getting the blood going due to said adrenaline.

The US has a lot of roller coasters scattered across most of its states, with some of them becoming the most sought-after rides for dares and adrenaline shots.

However, the first roller coaster in the US may not be what you think it is.

The First 'Roller Coaster' In the US

The first official roller coaster was opened on June 16, 1884, at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York. Back then, it was known as a Switchback Railway, which had its passengers seat beside each other, but parallel to the tracks, making them face outward rather than towards the oncoming tracks, per History.

However, the Switchback Railway is an improvement of what is widely believed to be the first recognized roller coaster, the Maunch Chunk Gravity Railroad in Pennsylvania, per Euclid Beach.

The Maunch Chunk Gravity Railroad was originally built to carry coal out of the mountain mines down a rail line stretching about nine miles. Over time, it was converted into the country's first "thrill" ride when it began taking on passengers instead of rock and coal in 1874.

During this time, the person who would eventually be credited as "The Father of the Modern American Roller Coaster," would ride the Maunch Chunk Gravity Railroad and have their life changed forever.

That person was LaMarcus Adna Thompson, a then-26-year-old inventor from Licking County, Ohio.

In fact, the switchback railway previously discussed in the article was Thompson's invention, which was inspired by his ride on the Mauch Chunk Gravity Railroad.

Unlike the Maunch Chunk Gravity Railroad, though, the Switchback Railway was primarily designed for amusement than moving coal and other minerals to and from mountainsides.

The ride Thompson invented went at six miles per hour which lasted only one minute. It wasn't the most thrilling of rides as there are no loops or sharp curves, but for people in the late 1800s, it was already an achievement.

Additionally, a ride on the Switchback Railway costs only five cents, which, in today's money, is now worth $1.49 today, according to in2013dollars.com - a price that is outlandish for most amusement parks, let alone theme parks.

What Happened To Roller Coasters After Then?

Reader's Digest mentioned in its article that Thompson would continue to build roller coasters as the years rolled by, eventually building more than 50 roller coasters over the next four years.

Thanks to Thompson's idea, roller coasters became Americans' options for a quick dose of fun and amusement, but when the Great Depression and World War 2 happened, the rides' popularity declined due to them being out of reach financially.

It was only after Walt Disney opened Disneyland in 1955 that the public fell in love again with roller coasters.