The of Amusement

by Udomdej Puenpa

B.A. in Liberal English, May 2010, Rangsit University M.S in Library and Information Science, December 2016, Catholic University of America

A Thesis submitted to

The Faculty of The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Exhibition Design

May 19, 2019

Thesis directed by

Andrea Hunter Dietz Assistance Professor of Exhibition Design

Abstract

The United States of Amusement

This thesis proposal is presenting an exhibition about the of amusement parks in the United States from the late 1890s until the present era, the late 2010s. The thesis will spell out the details of an exhibit that will show how amusement parks have impacted American culture, as well as how evolving technology has changed the industry.

Starting as small businesses providing recreation and pleasure to local audiences, amusement parks evolved over the decades into sophisticated national corporations with a global reach. Yet this exhibit will also show that all the while, as technology improved and as old-time amusement parks gave way to larger modern theme parks, the goal remained the same: to leave the United States in a state of amusement.

ii Table of Contents

Abstract ii

Table of Contents iii

List of Figures v

Introduction 1

Why Amusement Parks Matter 2

A Brief History 4

Exhibition contents 9

• Goals • Contents

Design Strategies 13

Interpretive Strategies 15

Audiences 16

Site Selection 19

Precedents 22

Conclusion 25

Appendix I 28

iii

Appendix II 32

Appendix III 39

iv List of Figures

Figure 1. 8

Figure 2. 9

Figure 3. Trolley Park 10

Figure 4. Disneyland: First day 11

Figure 5. Exhibition Floor Plan 14

Figure 6. The Grand Opening 15

Figure 7. A Trolley Park for Everyone 15

Figure 8. A Rough Ride 16

Figure 9. Hello! Theme Park 17

Figure 10. Fun of the Future 17

Figure 11. The National Museum of American History 24

Figure 12. East Hall, 1 st Floor of the National Museum of American History 25

Figure 13. Polin Museum 28

Figure 14. Adventures of Moominland Exhibition 29

v Introduction

The leisure-seeking public is as fickle as trout Alan Bailey, “The Pitfalls of the Pleasure Dome”

Today’s amusement park is not your father’s amusement park, or your grandfather’s. These pleasure palaces have evolved over time alongside America and its technology – and they have, at times, fallen out of favor before something new and exciting made them, well, new and exciting again.

But in the memory of many Americans, amusement parks remain talismans of good times, the times when we were young. And it is all because amusement parks create such strong memories. There is an abundance of places where people from all over the world go for pleasure, such as beaches and national parks and sports stadiums. But few produce the indelible memories so many of us carry from our young days at amusement parks: the thrill of the steep twists and turns of the , the carefree sense of pleasure that accompanies a ride, the screams and the laughter of all the other children who are in on this adventure with us.

The United States of Amusement will aim to recreate that sense of adventure in a museum setting – because that is where it belongs.

1 Why Amusement Parks Matter

He who can look upon a merry-go-round without longing to ride the wooden horse once more before he dies, for all the maturity of his middle age, can hardly be a human being.

Richard Le Gallienne, “Human Need of ”

That quote from Le Gallienne explains why The United States of Amusement would be an excellent and even necessary museum exhibit. Amusement parks are part of the historic memory of so many Americans – yet they have never been treated as the historical artifacts that they are. This exhibit would do just that, placing amusement parks in the correct historical context and stressing how central they are to American culture.

Amusement parks have been important destinations for generations of Americans.

Americans typically go to these sprawling entertainment centers at two or three stages of life: when they are children, and when they have children (or grandchildren). As a result, amusement parks create memories across the generations: memories that many

Americans would like to relive.

The United States of Amusement will allow them to do that, and therefore it would have a large target audience. It will allow children to relive the fun of an amusement park visit on a cold winter’s day – and teach them how much different their amusement park visits are than those of earlier generations. It will allow adults to relive their childhood memories – and teach their children that there’s more to amusement parks than just the fun.

2 Amusement parks tell the stories of their times. For example, in their early days, amusement parks were places where young and single people would go to escape restrictive social mores. In 1897, young and single people would go to Coney Island’s

Steeplechase Park because they could have more intimate – although quite harmless – interactions with strangers of the opposite sex: a young women could feel comfortable lifting her long skirt to reveal her shapely leg there, whereas it would be considered shameful in many other places 1. And now, more than a century later, a trip to an amusement park is a deep dive into modern technology that can send people spinning upside down, that can send them on a virtual reality tour of a fictional world, or that can – at Disney’s Epcot Center – take them around the world in an instant.

In other words, amusement parks serve as reflections of larger trends in American society – which means they are part of American history. It is only fitting that a museum exhibit finally explore this issue.

1 Judith A. Adams. The American Amusement Park Industry: A history of Technology and Thrills (, MA: Twayne, 1991): 43.

3 A Brief History of Amusement Park

The world’s oldest amusement park, Bakken, is located in Dyrehaven, Denmark, where it was founded 434 years ago -- and its original attraction was the fresh water from a natural spring 2. This became the prototype for the early outdoor amusements of Europe in the 17 th and 18 th centuries, which were really pleasure gardens 3, filled with greenery, entertainment venues and zoos.

Only in America did this sort of outdoor pleasure center evolve into the high-tech wonderlands that we know today as amusement parks. It all started on May 1, 1893, when the American people were captivated by the brilliant alabaster Court of Honor, the shimmering statues and the crystal clear canals of the World’s Columbian Exposition in

Chicago. The most remarkable invention and impressive sight at the park was the rising 264 feet above the midway invented by George Washington Gale Ferris, who had been inspired by a huge water wheel from his childhood. 4

Figure 1. Steeplechase Park

2CBS News. Amusement parks: The ride of a lifetime. 2017. 3 Adams, 3-4 4 Adams, 31.

4 The success in Chicago appears to have inspired the development of the first major American amusement park at ’s Coney Island. In 1897, George C.

Tilyou opened Coney Island’s Steeplechase Park. Proclaimed “the Funny Place,” this 15- acre park became a smash hit thanks to its 25-cent “pay-one-price” admissions policy and an array of amusements ranging from games to rides – with the riffraff, the gamblers and the prostitutes and the other hangers-on of the time, kept safely outside the park gates.

Steeplechase Park survived several major crises, such as a fire, the Great Depression,

World Wars, and radical culture change, and remained operating until the 1960s.

Figure 2. Luna Park

The success of Steeplechase Park led to the creation of a nearby competitor: In the early 1900s, Frederic Thomson and Skip Dundy turned a moderate amusement park, Sea

Lion Park, into a lavish 22-acre, million-dollar amusement center called Luna Park. Luna

Park’s concept was “unrestrained extravagance, the magnetic wonder of the fantastic, the vitality of ceaseless motion and lush illumination”. The features attractions included the

5 Eskimo Village, the Canals of Venice, a Dutch windmill, a Japanese garden, and illusion rides, such as “A Trip to the Moon” and “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea.”

Figure 3. Trolley Park

In the 1890s , trolley companies established amusement parks to give their customers a reason to travel to the end of the line. And as a result, by 1919, between

1,500 and 2,000 amusement parks existed in the United States. They were hugely popular in their day: a new adventure on the outskirts of cities, easy to access by the public transportation of the day..

However, starting in the 1920s, trolley parks started to decline in popularity for several reasons. Automobiles were becoming more popular, which meant that more people were able to embark on independent leisure travel. Three years of unpleasant summer weather starting in 1920 didn’t help matters either. Then came the Great

Depression and World War II, which put a damper on leisure activities of all kids. And then in the late 1940s and 1950s, people with means began moving to the suburbs, particularly in northern industrial cities where southern Blacks had migrated for work.

6 With major cities diversifying, loyal patrons of trolley parks often did not want to share the parks with the new clients. And to top it all off, the television set allowed Americans to access free home entertainment starting in 1950. Public leisure facilities of all kinds, including amusement parks, suffered.

Figure 4. Disneyland: First day

Soon, though, American amusement parks would be reborn thanks to one of

American entertainment’s enduring geniuses. On July 17, 1955, cartoon creator Walt

Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Impressed by the orderly and relaxed feel of Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and Greenfield Village, a historic park in

Dearborn, Michigan, Walter Elias Disney decided to opened an amusement park on his own, without any help from his brothers. The park contains five worlds -- Main Street

U.S.A. , Adventureland , Frontierland , Fantasyland , and Tomorrowland – in contrast to the narrow, themeless world of the typical trolley park.

In the first six months of Disneyland’s existence, this newfangled theme park had over a million guests visited and was able to pay off the loans of $9 millions.

7 Imitators followed: Knott’s Berry Farm in California and Six Flags in Texas. But soon, Disney would outdo them both.

In the summer of 1964, Disney bought parcels of swampland on the outskirt of

Orlando, in central Florida. His goal: to build a much more expansive theme park than

Disneyland, which spread across only 160 acres.

Walt Disney World would be much more than just an East Coast Disneyland.

Opened in 1971, the place was and is s a complete vacationland with theme attractions, hotels and resorts with recreation facilities. The Experimental prototype Community of

Tomorrow (EPCOT) was Disney’s proudly presented vision a worldly utopia. Disney

World became, by far, the biggest tourist attraction in the entire world, where more than

25 million people visited, each year.

While amusement parks are exist in many places and countries all over the world, the United State could possibly considered a biggest hub of amusement park as it owns the highest number of amusement parks in the country. 9 major commercial American amusement parks are on the chart of top 25 amusement/ theme parks worldwide that has highest attendance growth, which considered the a country that has highest number of amusement parks/ theme park 5. Top of the chart, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, has the highest number of attendance at 20,450,000 in 2017. This fact is not included the local amusement park throughout the country, which are approximately about 400 parks. 6

5 Judith Rubin. TEA/AECOM 2017 Theme Index and Museum Index: The Global Attraction Attendance Report (California: Theme Entertainment Association, 2018):31. 6 CBS News. Amusement parks: The ride of a lifetime. 2017.

8 Exhibition Contents

Objectives

The objectives of the exhibition are:

- To allow visitors to experience the evolution of the amusement parks in

America from their creation in the late 1890s until the present day.

- To teach visitors the role that amusement parks played in American culture

and social life over the decades.

- To show visitors how the amusement park industry – and the technology

behind it – evolved through time.

The exhibition is divided into five sections :

• The Grand Opening,

• A Trolley Park for Everyone

• A Rough Ride

• Hello! Theme Parks

• The Fun of the Future

Fig.5 Exhibition Floor Plan

9 These individual sections provide different experiences and learning takeaways.

The Grand Opening

Fig.6 The Grand Opening

The audiences will learn with the story of the early major amusement parks in

America, starting with Coney Island’s amusement parks: Steeplechase Park, Luna Park, and Dreamland. This section also includes the history of major classic amusement park rides, such as and the Ferris Wheel, while fitting these destinations into the context of the times.

A Trolley Park for Everyone

Fig.7 A Trolley Park for Everyone

10 This section would highlight “trolley parks,” the trend of amusement parks in the early 1900s. The contents will introduce visitors to the parks that opened at the end of the trolley lines in many American cities, the relationship between the trolley companies and the parks, from their origins to their decline. Contents would include historical artifacts from the remaining trolley parks, such as Park in and Lake

Compounce in Connecticut.

A Rough Ride

Fig.8 A Rough Ride

This section would show how the Great Depression, World War II and the rise of the automobile brought an end to the trolley park era. It also includes contents about the evolution of the roller coast during this era, with a focus on the parks that hosted the major roller coasters of the era, such as The Bobs at Riverview Park in Chicago, the

Cyclone at Coney Island, and the Racer at Kennywood Park near .

11 Hello! Theme Parks

Fig 9. Hello! Theme Park

This section would show how Walt Disney invented the theme park with

Disneyland in 1955, how Angus G. Wynne refined the concept with Six Flags over Texas in 1960, and how Disney World made itself the industry standard in 1971. The landscape models of the major commercial amusement parks, in the early and recent versions, will also displayed in this section in order to demonstrate how these facilities became national destinations.

The Fun of the Future

Fig 10. Fun of the Future

This section would start with the opening of Universal Studios in Orlando in

1990 and show how it paved the way for modern theme parks. Included in this exhibit

12 would be showcases of cutting-edge technology that are used in the amusement parks of today, such as Virtual Reality tours, 4D experiences, and safety systems.

Design Strategies

From the entrance of the exhibition, the visitors are greeted by a gigantic version of the exhibition poster on the left with the glowing letters of the exhibition title nearby.

Meanwhile on the right, the visitors will be able to see a glimpse of a revolving historic carousel. The overhead lights will guide them toward the first section of the exhibition, with its huge, brightly lit title on top of the entrance.

The first section, The Grand Opening, features a gigantic 180-degree video installation that tells the stories of America’s first great amusement destination: Coney

Island. Three iconic American amusement parks were built there in the late 1800s:

Steeplechase Park, Luna Park, and Dreamland. The visitors will be introduced to these amusement park in different aspects: their creation, peak times, and their eventual closure. Moreover, the visitor can ride the historic carousel, which was inspired by the design of Gustav Dentzel, the legendary carousel designer. This section is colored in bright red and designed with rustic wood and metal in order to recreate the feeling of an old-time amusement park.

The second section is called A Trolley Park for Everyone . The trolley line, which used to be the primary transportation for amusement park patrons, is the theme of the section. Visitors will see a diorama of a trolley park that will attract child audiences.

Nearby, there will be an actual trolley car that visitors can enter in order to experience the old-style interior design and to read more about the history of trolley parks. This section

13 is designed to recreate what visitors would see as they got off the trolley for a visit to the trolley park. This section also features an interactive experience, in which the visitors will be able to ride a hand car along trolley tracks as they view the sort of setting a visitor to a trolley park would have seen a century ago.

The third section, A Rough Ride , features an immersive experience of the decline of amusement parks during the Great Depression. The visitors will feel as if they are walking through an abandoned amusement park, as they see a rusting roller coaster cart and a decaying carousel horse with vines and ivy all around. There is also a photo gallery of abandoned American amusement parks featured in this section.

The fourth section, Hello! Theme Parks , shows how innovators such as Walt

Disney reinvented amusement parks starting in the 1950s. This section features large- scale models of the theme parks that have were created in the 1950s and that are still open today, such as Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags over Texas, and King’s

Island. In addition to the history of these parks, this section will include close looks at what inspired the innovators who revived the amusement park industry during this era.

The last section, Fun of the Future , will bring visitors to the amusement parks of today and tomorrow. Laser lights will be projected throughout the room, on the floor and on the ceiling. The section is mainly painted in blue to create the feel of the digital age and modern technological devices. The visitors will enjoy virtual reality with a 4D experience with two major “Experience Tubes” that will be located in the center of the section.

14 Interpretive Strategy

The interpretive strategy of this exhibition is a journey through time, starting with the first amusement park in the United States in the late 1890s and continuing to the current theme parks and their trends in 2010s. The exhibit will interpret the various eras of amusement park history through the lenses of the culture and technology of the time.

Amusement parks are considered a significant component of American culture, as they provide nostalgia and memorable moments for American people in every generation.

The United States of Amusement will reflect on larger cultural trends that helped shape the amusement parks of the day, as well as examining how amusement parks themselves contributed to American culture writ large.

Similarly, amusement parks both reflect and amplify technological developments, so this exhibit will have to do the same. The exhibit will show how the motorized technologies of more than a century ago led to the creation of the roller coaster, for example, and how virtual reality is changing the amusement parks of today.

Narrative Device

A visit to The United States of Amusement will be similar to a ride on a roller coaster, full of twist and turns. In the first section, The Grand Opening, visitors will feel as if they are walking into the joyous setting of an old-time amusement park of the last

1800s. Next that joyful feeling will continue as they visit A Trolley Park for Everyone, which will mimic the feel of the “trolley parks” that became common at the end of trolley lines in many American cities at the dawn of the 20th century. Within a few decades, though, the trolley park era ended, and visitors will experience the feeling of visiting one

15 of those abandoned parks in the middle section, A Rough Ride . This will be the low point in the visitors’ emotional roller coaster ride. They will reach the high point, though, in the last two parts of the exhibition, Hello! Theme Parks and Fun of the Future , which evoke the bold colors and bright lights of today’s amusement parks – and tomorrow’s.

Another narrative device used in this exhibition is a traditional amusement park ride: a hand car. Included in A Trolley Park for Everyone , the hand car will actually allow visitors to take a brief journey past scenery that mimics the setting of an old-time trolley park. That journey will remind visitors of the stories they remember from visiting amusement parks when they were young. What’s more, it will leave them with the feeling of fun and relaxation they felt back when they were visiting amusement parks in their childhood.

Audience

Target audiences for this exhibition are family groups (adults and children) and amusement park aficionados.

Family groups:

The potential audience from this group is the parents of children under 12 years old who live in Washington, D.C., , and area or can easily commute to the National Museum of American History, as well as families traveling to the area for vacation. A key characteristic of this audience is that the parents work on the weekdays and thus have less free time to spend with family during the week. Therefore, they prefer spending weekend time with family in family-friendly environments, such as theme parks, museums, or beaches.

16 At the same time, another potential group of the target audience, the children, are similar to the previous group that has been mentioned: they are from families that live in

Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area and can access to The National Museum of American History, and they have parents who have free time to spend with their children during the weekend. The age of the children is about 12 years old and lower, or elementary school ages.

A Sample Audience: Elizabeth B., 36, a public librarian

Elizabeth is a public librarian at a suburban library of Washington, D.C. area. She is also a mother of two children, nine and five years old, respectively. Just like a typical mother, Elizabeth is quite busy as she is working on normal hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.., and well as taking care of her children. She mentioned that she usually takes her children to travel outdoors whenever her schedule and her husband’s schedule are well planned. However, the family’s destinations have to be nearby, as the family has a limited budget and must be able to come back home in the same day. For example, she has taken her children to the Six Flags America in Woodmore CDP, Prince George’s

County, Maryland. The reason she chose the Six Flags is the traveling distance and the cost of traveling.

Amusement park aficionados :

Amusement park aficionados make up another target group that has high potential to visit this exhibit, but there’s a flaw with this group: it is inherently small. The demographic of this target group is teenagers and adults who can take responsibility for their own finances and travel. This audience is highly interested in and enthusiastic about

17 amusement parks and everything they offer. They usually follow the news, activities, trends, and technologies involving the amusement park or recreation industry. An example of this target group is members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, which, according to its website, has more than 5,000 members.

A Sample Audience: Ed W., 52, a realtor

Ed and his partner are members of American Coaster Enthusiasts. They typically make trips every year to nearby amusement parks such as Kings Dominion and Busch

Gardens in Virginia. They often make more distant trips, too, to places such as Cedar

Point, the amusement park in Ohio that bills itself as “the roller coaster capital of the world.” They keep up with the latest news through the American Coaster Enthusiasts website and plan trips to check out new roller coasters. They would be likely to want to continue their explorations at The United States of Amusement.

The Tech-Savvy

The demographic of this target group is adults who work in the technology field, have high interest in technology, or have a serious hobby that involves technology. Tech- savvy people may not pay their attention to the museum activities with general topics or non-technology exhibitions. However, an exhibition with modern technology, such as virtual reality, is likely to get attentions from this target group.

A Sample Audience: Daniel S., 32, a web designer

Daniel is a website designer who lives in Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C.

With his technology background, a B.S. in Computer Science, Daniel is avid IT gadget enthusiast and frequently updates to the latest technology trends. He admitted that

18 museums and exhibitions are not usually places he would frequent. However, he said he would visit any kind of exhibition that uses any forms of modern technology as a tool to convey the messages or tell a story. Daniel mentioned that a recent exhibition that he visited was the National Geographic’s Tomb of Christ exhibition. The reason that he visited the exhibition was not because of the contents but the technology used in the exhibition. Daniel enthusiastically tried 3D glasses to explore the immersive 3D tour of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He said that although he chose technology over the content before visiting the exhibition, he found the exhibit’s contents were worth visiting.

Site Selection

Due to the theme, contents, and target audiences, the final site that would be best suited for this exhibition would be the east wing, on the first floor of The National

Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Figure 11. The National Museum of American History

History

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History collects, preserves, displays, and interprets the heritage of the United States. Located on the National Mall in the

19 nation’s capital, the facility explores America’s culture, social life, technology, science, and military history.

The museum was originally known as the Museum of History and Technology, but was renamed as the National Museum of American History in 1980 in order to more clearly define its mission, which is to collect, study, and interpret artifacts that represent

American cultures and people.

The National Museum of American History owns 1.8 million artifacts and 17,000 cubic feet of archival material, and had about four million visitors in 2017. 7

The museum has many collections related to American history and culture: for example, the Star-Spangled Banner, First Ladies’ Gowns, a Samuel Morse telegraph,

Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, an Alexander Graham Bell telephone, Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves, Duke Ellington’s sheet music and so on. It also has a tradition of offering museum displays that are simply fun, such as a recreation of Julia Child’s kitchen and of

Archie Bunker’s living room.

Figure 12. East hall, 1 st Floor of The National Museum of American History

7 “Media Fact Sheet”. National Museum of American History, 2018, https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/national-museum-american-history

20 Opportunities

The first opportunity is the audience. The majority of exhibitions at the National Museum of American History, and the theme itself, are related to American history and culture – and The United States of Amusement tells a small snippet of American history. Most visitors who visit this museum are likely to expect to attend exhibitions related to history and cultures. This exhibition serves contents about the history of the amusement park in

America and how it affected American culture. As a result, this exhibition probably has a built-in audience among regular visitors and supporters of this museum.

The second opportunity is the ease of access. The exhibit would be located on the first floor of the National Museum of American History, meaning visitors would see signs for it soon after they enter – and would not have to climb stairs or enter an elevator to visit the exhibit. Physically challenged visitors and visitors with limited time to visit the museum would also be more likely to visit this first-floor exhibit.

Another opportunity that comes with locating this exhibit on the first floor comes from the neighbor exhibitions. Currently, there are several exhibitions that share similar target group, the children, such as Spark!Lab and Wonderplace . Children who visit those nearby exhibits would be more likely to happen by the exhibit on amusement parks.

Locating this exhibit does present a challenge in one way, however. As mentioned earlier, there are many exhibitions available on the first floor of the National Museum of

American History – and it is possible that these exhibits could be considered competition for The United States of Amusement. Another possible worst-case scenario is with visitors who visit the museum with a plan to visit the amusement park exhibition. They can also

21 be distracted by the theme or contents of the other exhibitions if they found them to be more relevant to their interests or preferences.

Site Analysis

With 25,960 square feet of exhibition space and 13-foot-high ceilings, the East

Hall on the first floor of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is an enormous site that is big enough to host large-scale installations. One special area of this site is an exit to the botanical garden. This would benefit The United States of Amusement as that exit are can be adapted to be part of the exhibition, allowing visitors to experience the outdoor view.

Currently, America on the Move is the exhibition in this site. This is an enormous exhibition that tells stories of how transportation has shaped American culture from 1876 to 1999. The exhibition contains 19 sections, organized chronologically, with about 300 objects, from small to gigantic: from a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, to a Ford Model T

Roadster, to a steam-powered locomotive. As there are many similarities between this exhibition and United States of Amusement , such as chronological organization, multiple sections and the varying sizes of objects, this site has great potential as the location for

The United States of Amusement .

Precedents

Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw, Poland

Polin is a historical narrative museum that takes the visitors on a journey of 1,000 years of Jewish history in Poland. This museum has such a unique style of presenting its

22 contents. First, Polin relies on a highly artistic method to present contents in the exhibition. Second, instead of using typical descriptions to present the materials, the museum chooses short quotes from the primary source materials. This method makes

Polin distinct and different from many other historical museums.

Figure.13 Polin Museum

Influence factors:

Polin ’s exhibition is divided into seven galleries, allowing the visitors to explore the exhibition through a timeline, started from the early years in the first gallery, First

Encounter (960-1500). Other galleries -- Paradisus Iudaeorum (1569-1648), The Jewish

Town (1648-1772), Encounters with Modernity (1772-1914), On the Jewish Street (1918-

1939), Holocaust (1939- 1945), and Postwar Years (1945-present day) -- follow. The exhibit relies on technology to present some of the contents, such as interactive maps, touch screen, short videos, and audio narration, the cultural elements. Those are significant to the exhibit, but so are more traditional elements, such as manuscripts or quotes from chronicles, which most of them are in the original language: Polish, Latin,

23 Arabic, as well as English. In addition, there are some activities that allow the visitors to participate, such as by creating their own medieval-style prints.

Adventures in Moominland , Southbank Center, London, UK

(December 16, 2016 – April 23, 2017)

Adventures in Moominland was the first major exhibition in the United Kingdom about Moomins, the surreal hippo-like characters that were created by the Finnish illustrator Tove Jansson. This immersive-interactive exhibition will allow the visitors to the stories of the invention of Moonins through the life story of the creator.

Figure 14. Adventures in Moominland Exhibition

Influence factors:

This interactive exhibition relies heavily on scene design as it is focused on children audiences aged seven years old and older. However, the archived materials, such as original drawings, are still also available for the visitors to explore. One goal of this exhibition is to get visitors to embrace and love Moomins, the same feeling that their

24 parents/ grandparents used to have before 8. In addition, the visitors were guided through the exhibition by the audio narrative voice of the British-Danish comedian Sandi

Toksvig, which was written by the children author, Laura Dockrill.

Conclusion

In one important way, The United States of Amusement would be an exhibit without precedent. There is no evidence to be found that this sort of exhibition – a historical tour of America’s amusement parks – has ever been done before. This fact, along with the general popularity of this entertainment venue, would seem to guarantee this exhibition’s success. After all, 151.38 million people visited North America’s top 20 amusement parks in 2017 – and surely many of them would happily attend a free museum exhibition detailing the thrilling history of one of America’s favorite entertainment venues.

8 Tabish Khan. This Moomin Exhibition Is Interactive Fun For The Family. December, 2018. https://londonist.com/london/a-moomin-exhibition-that-is-great-family-fun

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“The Theme Park Technologies Transforming Guest Experience”. Localmeasure. Access October 30, 2018. https://www.localmeasure.com/post/theme-park-technologies- transforming-guest-experience

Rubin, Judith. TEA/AECOM 2017 Theme Index and Museum Index: The Global Attraction Attendance Report (California: Theme Entertainment Association, 2018):31.

27 Appendix I

In Eight Ways of Looking at an Amusement Park , Russell B. Nye states that amusement parks can be seen in eight different ways9:

In the first way, amusement parks are seen as “an alternative world to that of our daily lives .” Amusement parks can be places for people who want to leave the real world and their social status behind for a time. There they can enjoy an escape from ordinary life in a place where they can act differently than they would in real life.

In the second way, an amusement park is seen as “fantasy, a stage set, a never- never land where one can walk out of his own world into a much more interesting one.”

The fantasy elements of amusement parks allow visitors to immerse themselves in benign but imaginary unusual situations or, in some cases, take pleasure from in sudden surprises. For example, an early ride called “The Haunted Swing” allowed visitors to enter a room that appeared to turn then around and upside down, or that left them spinning while standing on their heads, all due to optical illusions caused by mirrors.

The third way views amusement parks as “spectacle, as a unified, harmonious production meant to be seen and heard.” Spatial design is a significant element that most park planners focus on to unite the visual and the aural to provide a full sensory experience for visitors.

This idea was influenced by the movie set. For example, in order to create Luna Oriental at Coney Island, the designer combined towers, turrets, walls, flags, colors, lights and costumes into one big display.

9 Russell B. Nye. Eight Ways of Looking at an Amusement Park .

28 The fourth way interprets an amusement park as “a release from conventional behavior, a place where some of the restraints of daily life may be relaxed.” An amusement park can be a place where the rules of etiquette are loosened a bit so that the visitors can feel comfortable and carefree about behaviors and social rules. In amusement parks, many games or activities allow the visitors to abandon their inhibitions. For example, a game in which baseballs are thrown at dishes was advertised with the slogan:

“If you can’t do at home, do it here!” Some rides, such as “Barrel of Fun” or “Love’s

Journey,” allow the visitors to have physical contact that might be seen as unusual in other settings.

The fifth way views the amusement park as “an extension of the backyard outing or family picnic.” In the early era, amusement parks were promoted as centers of family fun, where people could enjoy spending time with their loved ones in a more expansive setting. Amusement parks offered what the backyard offered, but more of it: a variety of food options, games and rides. And that view of amusement parks continues to the present day.

In the sixth way, the amusement park is seen as “an adaptation and extension of construction and transportation technology.” Most amusement park technologies are adapted from and inspired by modes of transportation, which is easy to figure out if we look closely at common amusement park rides. For example, the American roller coaster was inspired by a real railroad to a mine, which ran through a tunnel to help miners with their work before it was turned into a tourist attraction.

In the seventh way, the amusement park is viewed as “the riskless risk, a place where one may take chances that are really not chances.” Amusement parks seems like

29 places that provide dangers and thrills, which are not actually dangers, for the visitors. In other words, it can be said that amusement park rides are for people who love the feeling of taking risks. Some people love the feeling of fearful anticipation, the dizzying moment of panic, and the rewarding sense of bravery of having dared that all result from many amusement park rides. There is also a sudden feeling of comradery among those experiencing this artificial thrill together, and this proves to be another attraction of the amusement park experience.

The eighth way to view amusement parks is as “the closest approximation of the total play experience.” The amusement park is probably the only place in our life that provides us any number of forms of play in a single controlled environment. All the elements in the amusement parks -- action, noise, color, and confusion – are tied to the notion of play. And the overall amusement park environment allows people to immerse themselves in a completely playful experience.

In general, then, Nye argues that amusement parks are centers of entertainment and pleasure, but that there are many factors underlying why these places are so entertaining and pleasurable.

The classic amusement park rides

Carousel

The carousel, a classic and iconic element of amusement parks throughout the world, also has its own meaningful history. Originating in Europe, carousels came to

America in the 1800s, and at first, they did not necessarily feature galloping horses with flowing manes. Salvatore Cernigliaro, a designer for Dentzel – the first American

30 carousel manufacturer – in 1885 developed rides featuring a variety of animals and mythical beasts, such as lions, giraffes, camels, and dragons. However, they were not as popular as horses among carousel riders. The Dentzel carousel faced competitors in its day. For example, starting in the late 1880s the Armitage-Herschell Company of North

Tonawanda, New York, started manufacturing a carousel that also came to be known as

Tonawanda machine 10 .

Ferris Wheel

Back in May 1893, the World’s Columbian Exhibition opened in Chicago. Its brilliant alabaster Court of Honor, shimmering statues and crystal clear canals captivated

America – but nothing stood out at the exposition quite like the Ferris Wheel. Rising 264 feet above the midway, this contraption offered its passengers an expansive view of the park and Chicago itself. And it all happened because inventor George Washington Gale

Ferris was inspired by a huge water wheel from his childhood. 11

Irritated by Daniel Burnham’s remark that American engineers had not been able to invented anything “novel” and “daring” for the coming exposition, Ferris, a young engineer, designed two concentric wheels from which hung 36 pendulum cars, with the capacity of holding 60 passengers. Despite unpleasant weather, 2,000 guests participated in the wheel’s uplifting experience when it opened. That made the Ferris wheel a popular topic and attraction until the exhibition closed in October.

The original Ferris wheel once again entertained visitors at the Louisiana

Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. Unfortunately, the novelty had worn off by

10 Judith A. Adams. The American Amusement Park Industry: A history of Technology and Thrills (Boston, MA: Twayne, 1991): 11.

11 Adams, 31.

31 then. The wheel was not profitable in St. Louis, and it was abandoned there. Residents condemned it as a rusting eyesore, so the original wheel was destroyed by 100 pounds of dynamite.

Other Ferris wheels were built, though, at other and amusement parks across the country in the following years.

Roller Coaster

The roller coaster was first invented in Russia, but it also developed independently in America. The earlier form of the American roller coaster was inspired by the at Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. The venturesome people of

Mauch Chunk took advantage of an abandoned railroad in 1870. The railroad was converted to a tourist sightseeing vehicle that ran through rugged and magnificent Pocono

Mountains. The vehicle was hauled to the top of Mt. Pisgah by a steam engine, then descended into the valley by gravity with a ratchet system between the tracks that prevented it from slipping too fast. The cost was five cents per ride to experience the mountaintop view and the “Amazing Burning Mine,” which had been aflame since

1832. 12 As of 1873, the switchback served 35,000 tourists per year.

Appendix II

The actual reviews/comments by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History’s visitors from Yelp.com, about the elements of the site which are related/useful for the exhibition, from November 2018 – March 2019:

“ This is one of the favorite museums at the Smithsonian! The American History museum has so many icons of history and pop culture that you read about in textbooks and see in

12 Adams, 14 .

32 movies. With the number of exhibits they have, you could spend all day here and there is something for everyone! It is super kid friendly and very interactive. If you have to make a choice between which Smithsonian museums to visit, this one should be at the top of the list ”. Brianna B. / Florence, KY

“ Great Place to stop and see life throughout the years!! I had seen the signs posted all around the National Mall about this museum with the Ruby Slippers and Lincoln's Hat. They really had me intrigued. Walking in the first thing I saw was the Batmobile!! I knew when I saw that, the museum was about to be something EPIC which I could completely identify with. Walking through the levels I felt as though this museum would never end. Interactive exhibits in addition to visual ones. Classic Americana and inventions, iconic items such as sports memorabilia and Muppets, and the Presidential wing which showcased the First Ladies throughout the years, this museum was inspiring. Although I will say that its flash back in time did make me feel a bit dated when I found "classic" McDonalds items I remember from childhood now being considered relics. I feel like this is one of the museums I most identified with on the National Mall because it was very relatable. A family of all ages could go here and find something each and every one of them would relate to”. Crystal C./ Sunset, TX

“ This was my first visit to a Smithsonian and I was very impressed with the layout and exhibits offered. I liked how this one had references to everything including American History, music, transportation, even pop culture. My favorite exhibit was by the Star Spangled Banner exhibit. However, I thought it was neat to see the First Lady exhibit and the Ruby Slippers. This was a great museum for a general overview to America History. I found some wording and a few descriptions to be a little outdated, maybe even inappropriate, but as a whole a wonderful experience ”. Eftin J. / Monterey Park, CA

33

“ Such a neat place to visit at the National Mall!! If you enjoy history, you will absolutely love this place! They have such a variety of things to see, you could definitely spend a full day here! They show how America has evolved over the centuries, with an emphasis on pop culture and politics. They have Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz on display as well as a very neat section about the First Ladies of The United States of America. There is also so much more with three floors of displays!! Overall, a must see!!”. Brett G./ Joplin, MO

“ My daughter, friend, and I enjoyed the Museum for an entire day (10-20-18). We started on the 3rd floor. After reading through every sign and looking at every dress we realized we were going to run out of time so we hit some of our favorite highlights (Bat- mobile & Ruby Red Slippers, etc.). We are already planning our trip back to D.C. to finish this Museum. Thank You for keeping it FREE to the public! See you again soon! MOST SINCERELY!” Dayla K./ Walnut Cove, NC

Survey Questions 1. What do you think about amusement parks? 2. How often do you visit an amusement park? 3. When do you prefer visiting an amusement park? Why? 4. If so, which one did you visit recently, and which one do you prefer? Why? 5. What inspired or attracted you to visit an amusement park? 6. What are your concerns of visiting an amusement park?

1. Elizabeth B., 36 Please introduce Yourself

34 My Name is Elizabeth. I’m 36. Right now, I’m a librarian in a DC public library. I

have two children: Jake, 9 years old, and Ellie, 5 years old. We have been living in

the Logan Circle area for about 10 years.

What do you think about amusement parks?

- I like amusement parks. They remind me of my childhood when my parents took

me there and we had such a good time. It is a place where we laughed, had the

kind of food that I love like ice-cream or funnel cake or something like that. I

miss those moments.

How often do you visit an amusement park?

- Not very often. Since I live in D.C. area and there are not many nearby

amusement parks, it takes some time and effort to plan to visit them. The first

time we were there was quite a while ago, before Ellie was born. We went to

Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. It needed a plan for us to go there since it took

about three or four hours’ driving, and the entrance fee wasn’t cheap. My son Jake

was too young at that time, too. So, we have to carefully plan to visit there again.

But last year, we tried the Six Flags park in Maryland and it much more

convenient than we thought. But it was no Busch Gardens. It wasn’t fancy at all,

and it felt a little bit dated.

When do you prefer visiting an amusement park? Why?

- Definitely the summer. My kids are in school now so it’s really hard to find a time

to take them during the school year.

If so, which one did you visit recently, and which one do you prefer? Why?

35 - As I answered earlier, Six Flags was the one we visited recently. We plan to visit

Busch Gardens again when Ellie is a bit older. I remember that it a much more

pleasant atmosphere than Six Flags and much more for the kids to do.

What inspired or attracted you to visit an amusement park?

- I would say attractions or activities that we all can join together. I prefer visiting an

amusement park where there are many attractions that are suitable for kids the age of

Ellie and Jake. After all, we’re really going for them.

What are your concerns of visiting an amusement park?

- Ummm, probably cost and time that’s spent waiting in lines. It seems like

amusement parks nowadays are pretty pricey. When you bring a family of four, it

runs into hundreds of dollars. And oh, those lines! Even at Six Flags we had to

wait 20 minutes sometimes for a children’s ride. I don’t really worry about safety,

though, since our kids aren’t old enough yet for the thrill rides. I’m really glad

that they have that kind of policy.

A Sample Audience: Daniel S., 32, a web designer

Please introduce Yourself

- My name is Daniel. I’m 32 years old, and currently a web designer for a design

firm that create phone apps.

What do you think about amusement parks?

36 - I love amusement parks! I have been visiting them since I was young and I never

get enough since they always have new kinds of experiences and rides. I would

stop going there if they stop creating new attractions!

How often do you visit an amusement park?

- Probably once or twice a year, mostly in the spring, before it gets too hot.

When do you prefer visiting an amusement park? Why?

- Probably sometime in spring or fall. Definitely not in the summer! I hate the

crowds there then!

If so, which one did you visit recently, and which one do you prefer? Why?

- The last one I visited was Universal Studios, Orlando. It was great but super

crowded, which kind of annoyed me. I love both of the Harry Potter rides, though.

They were amazing! I heard about the new Avatar Park in the Animal Kingdom at

Disney World, and that’s supposed to be pretty good. I haven’t visited there yet

and it will be my next destination next year. I also know that Universal Studios

will open Super Mario land in a couple years. I can’t wait for that since I’m a big

fan of Super Mario!

What inspired or attracted you to visit an amusement park?

- I’m really interested in the modern technology that they blend with the rides and

attractions in the amusement park. It’s really immersive technology that really

draws you in. Like Soaring at Disney World , I think the combination of

immersive large screens with 4D elements, like scents, wind, and sprinkles made

the ride itself a real hoot. That is the main reason I visit amusement parks – for all

37 the thrills, which I think are actually better at the indoor parks nowadays. I feel

like roller coasters are getting sort of old.

What are your concerns of visiting an amusement park?

- Costs! The world-class amusement parks like Disneyworld and Universal Studios

are raising their entrance fee every year. Sometimes it’s a deal breaker for me. I

actually take fewer trips to amusement parks than I used to – partly because of the

cost, and partly because a lot of my friends these days aren’t interested in them.

A Sample Audience: Ed W., 52, a realtor

Please introduce yourself

My name is Ed. I’m 52 years old , and I’m a realtor in DC area. I have been living

Dupont Circle area for over 30 years.

What do you think about amusement parks?

- I like amusement parks! I see it as a short getaway in the summer where I can

relax and get away from the stress of my job. I’ve loved amusement parks ever

since my parents took me to them when I was young. I’m especially crazy about

roller coasters, which I why I’m a member of a group called American Coaster

Enthusiasts.

How often do you visit an amusement park?

- A couple times a year, every summer and when I have free time.

When do you prefer visiting an amusement park? Why?

38 - Usually in the summer. I think it is the best time to visit an amusement park,

unless you don’t like crowds. I love to see people visiting the park, too, and not

only the attractions.

If so, which one did you visit recently, and which one do you prefer? Why?

- Last summer, we drove to Cedar Point in Ohio. It was quite a long but fun road

trip. I’ve never seen such a crazy assortment of roller coasters! My partner didn’t

like it as much as I did because he’s a bit of a wuss when it comes to rides that

turn you upside down.

What inspired or attracted you to visit an amusement park?

- Roller Coasters! I just love them. Every few years, there’s always an amusement

park claiming that it now has the tallest roller coaster in the world. That really

always makes me want to try it.

What are your concerns of visiting an amusement park?

- I’m a bit concerned about safety on some rides. I’ve heard about accidents at

amusement parks a long time ago but not recently. I assume that the technology

has improved and that the companies that manage these parks put a premium on

safety. At least I hope so. But still, roller coasters are designed to scare you, and

they do – partly because if something went wrong, you’d be dead.

Appendix III

Amusement parks have produced communities of their own for people working in the business and for people who simply love visiting these entertainment venues.

39 An example is the International Association of Amusement Parks and

Associations (IAAPA). Established in 1918, IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities worldwide. Now celebrating its

100 th anniversary, this group currently includes members from more than 100 countries representing more than 5,300 amusement parks worldwide.

Another organization has sprung up to represent people who enjoy amusement parks: American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE). This non-profit organization was established in 1978 and has more than 5,500 members from 16 countries. Most of the members of this organizations are dedicated amusement park visitors who are learned and passionate about amusement parks 13 .

13 “What is ACE”, American Coaster Enthusiasts, https://www.aceonline.org/page/AboutACE.

40