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Coney Island exhibit opens

By Ryan Chatelain, amNewYork Associate Editor | ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com

June 1, 2007

Coney Island's future may be cloudy, but its past is well preserved.

The Coney Island History Project, an organization launched in 2004 to begin an oral history archive for the iconic area, opened the doors Thursday to its first home.

Its exhibition space is located underneath the Cyclone roller coaster in a building that has sold souvenirs, ice cream and hot dogs over the years.

"It's absolutely incredible because not only is it great because the memories of Coney Island will be preserved for future generations, but the location couldn't be better," said Joe Carella, spokeman for the Coney Island History Project.

Visitors can expect to see a display focusing on Coney Island's development over the past century, sidewalk photographs, an original horse from Steeplechase Park and an 1824 sign from a tollhouse used when Coney Island was still indeed an island (the toll for a horse and rider then was 9 cents).

The exhibit hall is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays through Sundays until Labor Day. Admission is free.