When temperatures rise, New Yorkers flock to Coney Island for the cooling sea breezes and a plethora of activities. For more than 150 years, Coney Island has captured the imagination of locals and tourists alike as an iconic and world-famous destination.  Join the Transit Museum to revisit the early development of Coney Island, in part a result of transportation that provided faster and more affordable access to the shore and resulted in the construction of attractions aimed at enticing visitors to the area.

To celebrate summer in the city, the New York Transit Museum has partnered with Coney Island USA/The Coney Island Museum and the Coney Island Brewery to explore the past and present of this storied Brooklyn location. We’ll investigate artifacts and relics of beach culture through the ages on display at the Coney Island Museum. Artists in the circus sideshow –  the contemporary revival of a theater tradition that started in New York City in the 1800s – will provide a glimpse into what visitors can experience on a visit to Coney Island USA. Finally, we’ll virtually stop by the Coney Island Brewery, whose creations often reference Coney Island and New York City landmarks. Before closing out get a glimpse into their process for creating Metro Area, a limited release brew that pays homage to New York’s subway map.

Beat the heat as we bring Coney Island to you!

All attendees are welcome. You will have the option to turn on automatic captions for this virtual program. Staff will share instructions for how to do so at the start of the event. Please email access@nytransitmuseum.org with any questions.