1208 Surf Avenue Landmark Plaque Celebration

Left to right: Sarah Salem, Steven Thomson, John di Domenico, Justin Brannan, Lisa Mangels-Schaefer, Adam Rinn

Not even an impending nor’easter could dampen spirits on Saturday, October 11, as the Coney Island Museum and Coney Island USA celebrated the unveiling of a plaque on our building denoting its landmarked status. In attendance were State Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, NYC Councilmember Justin Brannan, Sarah Salem representing NY Senator Jessica Scarcell-Spanton, as well as Steven Thomson of the NY Landmarks Commission, and Claire McCabe of the NY Landmarks Preservation Foundation.

Also joining the party was our very special guest Kate Dunham, representing the Childs family, the original owners of the building, and generous supporters of the Coney Island Museum and of the plaque project.

Right: Kate Dunham and Claire McCabe

We were also fortunate to be able to share the event with a group of our friends from NAPHA, who were in-town for their “Fall Hip-Hop”. We couldn’t have been more surprised — or grateful — when Andrea Dreyfus presented Curator Lisa Mangels-Schaefer with NAPHA’s Heritage Award and a check for $2500 for CIUSA! These folks have been loyal and generous supporters of the CIM and CIUSA, and their mission “to preserve, document, and enjoy the amusement and theme park industry” is analogous with our own. We couldn’t be more grateful!

Left: Joshua Litvik (NAPHA) & Sebastian, Andrea Dreyfus (NAPHA), Lisa Mangels-Schaefer, Adam Rinn

NAPHA Heritage Fund Award letter

The Coney Island Museum and Coney Island USA extend our heartfelt thanks to Alec Brook-Krasny; Justin Brannan; Sarah Salem; Steven Thomson; and Claire McCabe for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the ceremony. A HUGE thank you to NAPHA for their generosity and support — it means so much! (It’s always great to see our friends and meet new ones!)

And special thanks to CIUSA Board member John di Domenico, and to Kate Dunham, Chris Raphael, and the Childs family for their support of this project.

Left to right: Kate Dunham & CIUSA Board Chair Jeffrey Birnbaum; the newly installed Landmark Plaque ; Curator Lisa Mangels-Schaefer.

Thanks to all the Staff at Coney Island USA for a great event!