Coney Island Immigrant Heritage Tours Scheduled for April
On Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, the Coney Island History Project will hold a tour to help pepole learn about the contributions of immigrants to the history and development of “The Playground of the World.”
The Immigrant Heritage Tour of Coney Island conducted is in English (at 12:00PM) and Mandarin (at 3:00PM). The Coney Island History Project is offering this special walking tour free of charge as part of Immigrant Heritage Week 2019. Due to limited capacity, tickets must be reserved in advance via the eventbrite page. Among the stops on the tour and the stories of struggle, success and achievement are Nathan’s Famous, founded in 1916 by Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker; Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, where the landmark 1920 Wonder Wheel was purchased by Greek immigrant Denos D. Vourderis as a wedding ring for his wife Lula; and the B&B Carousell, created in 1919 by German and Russian immigrants and now Coney’s last hand-carved wooden carousel.
The tour will also highlight businesses operated by immigrants who have recorded their stories for the Coney Island History Project’s Oral History Archive. Coordinated by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Immigrant Heritage Week (IHW) is an annual citywide program of events celebrating the history, traditions and contributions of New York City’s diverse immigrant communities.
IHW 2019 is scheduled for April 15-21 in recognition of April 17, 1907, the date when more immigrants entered the U.S. through Ellis Island than any other date in history. Ticket reservations are limited to 2 per person as capacity is limited. Meet at the Coney Island History Project, 3059 West 12th St (at entrance to Deno’s Wonder Wheel), Brooklyn NY 11224. The tour takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on the size of the group. This program is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and New York City Councilman Mark Treyger.
The Coney Island History Project is a not-for-profit organization that aims to increase awareness of Coney Island’s legendary past and to encourage appreciation of the Coney Island neighborhood of today. Located on West 12th Street at the entrance to Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, the exhibition center is open free of charge on weekends during the summer season. Emphasizing community involvement, the History Project records and shares oral history interviews; provides access to historical artifacts and documentary material through educational exhibits, events and a website; teaches young people about local history; and develops programs in conjunction with local schools, senior centers, museums, and other organizations.
The Project’s multilingual offerings include a brochure in 10 languages, English and Chinese language walking tours, and oral history interviews recorded in several languages. The Coney Island History Project was founded in 2004 by Carol Hill Albert and Jerome Albert in honor of Dewey Albert, creator of Astroland Park. Executive director Charles Denson is a Coney Island native, a noted historian, and the author of the award-winning book Coney Island: Lost and Found.