Amusement park is a permanent outdoor entertainment complex that typically offers games, rides, and shows. There are amusement parks in many countries, but most of the larger parks are in the United States.
Amusement parks developed in the United States in the late 1800’s. One of the earliest types was the trolley park. Railways built these at the end of their lines to encourage the weekend use of trolleys. The World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, stimulated the development of the amusement park. The first important park, and the model for all later parks, was opened in the late 1800’s at Coney Island, a beach resort in Brooklyn, New York.
Amusement parks flourished from about 1900 until World War II (1939-1945). Since then, their popularity has steadily declined, with many parks closing after the 1960’s. In the United States, theme parks have replaced many traditional amusement parks. They are organized around such themes as local historical events, pioneer life, and wildlife. They also emphasize cleanliness, courtesy, and family entertainment. The first theme park, Disneyland Park, opened in 1955 in Anaheim, California. Its theme is the cartoon characters created by movie producer Walt Disney.
