On Saturday, CIHP Executive Director Charles Denson will give a slide talk about "Coney Island's Uncertain Future" at the New-York Historical Society. The talk will follow a screening of the Ric Burns documentary about Coney Island. You'll hear stories of Coney Island past and present and see some of the amazing images that are part of the History Project's collection.

The program is free and open to the public. Saturday, June 27, 1 - 4 pm, Free. New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77th St, 212-873-3400

Photo credit: (c) Charles Denson

Ever wondered what it was like to ride the Parachute Jump, or how the Wonder Wheel turns, or what drives the Cyclone's lift chain? This exhibit explains it all!

The Coney Island History Project's exhibition center opens for the 2009 season on May 23 with the new exhibition "Coney Island Icons: The Story Behind the Landmarks of the World's Playground." Archival and contemporary photos, documents, anecdotes, interview, souvenirs and artifacts are used to tell the story of Coney Island's four city landmarks -- The Cyclone Roller Coaster, Wonder Wheel, Parachute Jump and Childs Building. The exhibition is curated by Charles Denson, CIHP Executive Director, noted historian and the author of the award-winning book Coney Island: Lost and Found.

Visit the Coney Island History Project's Public exhibition center under the Cyclone Roller Coaster at 824 Surf Avenue just east of W 10th Street. FREE ADMISSION for One and ALL! Open weekends from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Hours are 1 to 6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. Also open on Memorial Day and Labor Day, 1-6 p.m.

Back by popular request:

• Interactive Video Interview Booth lets visitors record their memories and impressions of Coney Island for our Oral History Archive and take home a free souvenir photo
• "The Astroland Archives Photography Exhibit: Back to the Future" along with new photos by Charles Denson and artifacts recently donated by Astroland's Albert family
• "Souvenir Photographs from Sidewalk Photo Galleries," studio portraits of visitors from the 1870s to the present
• Take a souvenir photo with our authentic Steeplechase horse from the legendary ride that gave Steeplechase Park its name
• Among the treasures on display is Coney Island's oldest existing artifact, an 1823 Toll House sign from the days when the toll for a horse and rider to "the Island" was 9 cents
• A rare circa 1920 Mangels Kiddie Whip car sporting its original paint. It was manufactured at the Mangels Factory on 8th Street in Coney Island by William Mangels, oneof the amusement industry pioneers honored in CIHP's Coney Island Hall of Fame

Visit our website at www.coneyislandhistory.org to learn about our programs, listen to selected interviews at our online Oral History Ar... (read more)

Charles Denson, CIHP Executive Director and author of Coney Island: Lost and Found, and Jimmy Prince, CIHP's newly appointed "distinguished historian," unfurl the Memory Booth Banner on April 5th. Mr. Prince, who retired after 60 years at Mermaid Avenue's beloved Major Market, will work this season at the History Project's exhibition center, sharing his Coney Island memories with visitors. Visit the Coney Island History Project on flickr to see photos from our April 5, 2009 Open House celebrating Coney Island's and the Cyclone's Opening Day of the Season

Easter Sunday is historically one of Coney Island's biggest days of the season. By popular request, the History Project's public exhibition center under the Cyclone will be open on Sunday, April 12, from 12-5 pm for the season's first History Day Event.

During our History Day event, the first of which was held in 2005, the public is invited to record their personal memories and share their photographs and other memorabilia. Selected interviews and visual material are accessible at our online archive. Charles Denson and Amanda Deutch will be doing interviews from 12-5pm on April 12 in our professional recording studio.

Historic artifacts, photographs, maps, ephemera, films of Coney Island's colorful past and selections from the upcoming "Coney Island Icons" exhibition will also be on view. Admission is free of charge.

Interviews are also conducted year round by appointment in person or by telephone. People who would like to be interviewed can sign up online.This summer we will be conducting both in-person and recorded interviews, using our Video Interview Booth, in our exhibition center under the Cyclone roller coaster. In-person interviews are by appointment only. Recorded interviews using the Video Booth may be given any time during the exhibition center's hours of operation.

The CIHP exhibition center will open for the 2009 season on Memorial Day Weekend with a new exhibition "Coney Island Icons". Located on Surf Avenue just east of West 10th Street, the center is open free of charge on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For additional info, contact the History Project at info@coneyislandhistory.org or 718-266-0012.

Palm Sunday is the traditional season opener for Coney Island's rides and attractions. The Coney Island History Project's public exhibition center under the Cyclone roller coaster will host an open house on Sunday, April 5th from 12-3 pm to celebrate Coney Island's and the Cyclone's opening day of the 2009 season.

You're invited to view historic artifacts, photographs, maps, ephemera and films of Coney Island's colorful past and preview selections from our 2009 exhibition season. Admission is free of charge.

Please stop by on April 5th and say hello to Charles Denson, CIHP executive director and author of Coney Island Lost and Found and Wild Ride: A Coney Island Roller Coaster Family; newly appointed "distinguished historian" Jimmy Prince of Major Market; staffers Amanda Deutch, Tricia Vita and Jeff Wilday; and special guests. Our guest of honor will be Brooklynite Howie Lipstein, who has ridden the Cyclone for 50 consecutive seasons and will be interviewed by Mr. Denson for the History Project's Oral History Archive.

The CIHP exhibition center will open for the 2009 season on Memorial Day Weekend with a new exhibition "Coney Island Icons." Located on Surf Avenue just east of West 10th Street, the center is open free of charge on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The centerpiece is an authentic Steeplechase horse from the legendary ride that gave Steeplechase Park its name. Visitors are invited to record a video interview and take a free souvenir photo of their visit. For additional info, contact the History Project at info@coneyislandhistory.org or 718-265-0012.

The History Project's flickr photostream began as a visual diary of visitors to CIHP activities at the exhibition center during the 2008 season. "It's been so successful that we recently launched two public groups on the popular photo sharing site," says CIHP administrative director and CFF (chief flickr fanatic) Tricia Vita.

The group "Coney Island History Project Activities 2005-2009" is seeking photos of CIHP activities and exhibitions, both in our Coney Island exhibition center and off-site venues. Do you have photos of friends and family visiting our exhibition center under the Cyclone roller coaster or participating in CIHP events? We'd love to see them!

The purpose of "Coney Island is Alive and Kicking and Welcomes Visitors in 2009!" is to show the world that contrary to news reports, Coney Island Is NOT closed! This CIHP flickr group showcases the best of the best images of attractions that will definitely be here to welcome visitors this season. Info about the attractions shown often appear as "comments" on each photo's page. To view as a slide show, click on icon at top right corner of group pool page on flickr.

Launched on January 30, the group already has 475-plus fabulous photos and videos by more than 75 accomplished photographers. Group members have utilized Nikon, Canon, Polaroid, Diana, Holga and a zone plate camera, as well as lensbaby, HDR imaging, expired film, and cyanonegative prints to capture the essence of Coney Island. The majority of members are New Yorkers and longtime observers of the People's Playground, including Coney Island residents "lornagrl" and "Pablo57."

"Whether it's on the boardwalk, the amusements or the Russians on Brighton Beach Avenue...I see photos everywhere," says Lorna Keuning (aka lornagrl). "Pablo57," who describes himself as a street photographer in the footsteps of Garry Winogrand, says "Under the Wonder Wheel is the heart of Coney. At the crossroads of the pier is the soul."

"Coney Island is Alive and Kicking and Welcomes Visitors in 2009!" has also invited images from photographers who visited from across the country and around the world, including the UK, Italy, Germany and Thailand. For info on joining the group or contributing photos, please consult the group's description.

Jimmy Prince in his Mermaid Avenue shop with CIHP Executive Director Charles Denson

When Jimmy Prince retires at the end of February after 60 years at Mermaid Avenue's beloved Major's Market, he is moving on to two new jobs. The Coney Island History Project is pleased to announce that Mr. Prince has accepted the appointment as "distinguished historian." Chosen for his exceptional ability and knowledge of "Talking History," which is another name for "oral history," Mr. Prince will work this season at the History Project's exhibition center under the Cyclone roller coaster, sharing his Coney Island memories with visitors.

Mr. Prince is also the star of a new documentary by Charles Denson, author of Coney Island Lost and Found, which will premiere this summer. Mr. Denson has been filming the documentary about Mr. Prince and his customers for the past three years. The film is based on more than 60 hours of raw footage.

Jimmy Prince began working at Major's Market as a young man in 1949 and became the shop's proprietor in the 1970's. The storefront is emblazoned with signs that say "Coney Island is Coming back Folks, Let's Watch it Grow!" and "It's Major's for your Barbeque Specials." Founded in 1932, Coney Island's oldest butcher shop is a throwback to the days when the entire length of Mermaid Avenue, from Stillwell Avenue to Sea Gate, was a bustling retail strip serving a predominantly Jewish and Italian population. The shop was one of the few survivors the neighborhood's downturn in the 1960's and 70's, and, later, the incursion of supermarkets.

One of the audios in the History Project's online oral history archive is an interview with Jimmy. A second recording captures the sounds of a typical day at Major Markets.

The Coney Island History Project's exhibition center is located in a former souvenir store below the world-famous Cyclone roller coaster on Surf Avenue near West 10th Street. It is open weekends Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is free. For more information email info@coneyislandhistory.org