Frederick Ingersoll (1874-1927)
West Mifflin, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
A pioneer and leading visionary in the design of amusement rides and parks, his Figure-8 coasters and other inventions were found across the US. He launched his chain of brightly illuminated Luna Parks in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood in 1905, which inspired other Luna Parks around the world. He built and operated some of Kennywood's first rides, such as the Old Mill, and four coasters, including the park's first Racer.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
At the dawn of the 20th century, Americans were flocking to a new kind of attraction—the electrically lit amusement park—and Frederick Ingersoll was one of its great inventors. From Pittsburgh he designed Figure-8 coasters and other rides that appeared across the country, and in 1905 he launched his dazzling, brightly illuminated Luna Parks in the Oakland neighborhood, sparking imitators worldwide. He also built some of Kennywood's earliest rides, including the Old Mill and the park's first Racer coaster.
Why it matters
Ingersoll helped invent the modern amusement park as mass entertainment, and his rides at Kennywood and his globe-spanning Luna Parks shaped how Americans played in the industrial age.
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Related people
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Themes & tags
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