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Period: 476 to 1492
Fairs were popular
Fairs such as England's Bartholomew Fair became popular as people sought entertainment from these fairs during the Middle Ages. -
The First Amusement Park
The world's first amusement park was Bakken ("The Hill"), which is north of Copenhagen in Klampenborg, Denmark. It was also the world's first pleasure garden, which became a huge influence for the amusement parks today. -
The First Royal Hunting Ground
The first royal hunting ground was Prater in Vienna, Austra which was opened for public entertainment. Coffee-houses and cafés soon appeared which led to the renaming of the hunting ground as Wurstelprater, where it became an amusement park. -
The First World Fair
The first world's fair was held in London's Crystal Palace. The fair, which amassed huge educational exhibitions, helped start the concept of fixed entertainment parks. -
Period: to
The First Influence
The first influence for amusement parks were mechanical rides, such as the steam-powered carousel, first built by Thomas Bradshaw for the Aylsham Fair and its derivatives, prominently from Frederick Savage of King's Lynn, Norfolk whose fairground machinery was exported all over the world. -
Period: to
The Evolution of Brooklyn's Coney Island
Brooklyn's Coney Island evolved from a beach for pleasure seekers to an amusement park. It got its first carousel in the 1870s and its first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, in 1884. -
The Birth of the Midway
The midway was born from Chicago's Columbian Exposition. It was meant as an enclosed area that was filled with games and rides, including the world's first Ferris wheel. -
Period: to
The Gilded Age
The Gilded Age brought an increase in disposable income, which fueled the amusement parks that popped up at popular leisure destinations. A desire for greater entertainment following World War I led to the golden age of roller coasters. -
The Beginning of Disney Land
Walt Disney opened Disneyland after visiting amusement parks with his daughters over the previous two decades. With iover more than 60 years of operation, Disneyland has drawn more than 650 million guests and inspired a theme park empire spanning multiple continents.