Roller Coasters were Invented to Distract you from Sin

There are two types of people on this planet. We have the adrenaline-seeking side that love to come close to the edge of danger while enjoying the thrill; then we have the ones that hold their coats down on the ground where it's safe. For all of you wondering which relates to me, I am the one holding the coats – I prefer not to put myself in danger, and Roller Coasters are a big no-no. Yet, many of you gather together to challenge yourselves on the fastest, tallest, most head-spinning rides ever made. What if I told you that the first Roller Coaster was not invented to get your heart racing but instead distract you from sin? This is the story of LaMarcus Adna Thompson.

LaMarcus Adna Thompson

LaMarcus Adna Thompson, born in 1848 in Ohio and later relocated to Elkhart, Indiana, devised a machine for producing seamless ladies stockings and other hosiery. Thompson became wealthy thanks to his firm and invention. Due to his ill health, he resigned early and profited from his invention. Thompson was on the lookout for a pastime that would attract Americans away from Sin, believing that America was producing and rushing into a pit of iniquity. He witnessed a rise in public use of bars, gambling, dancing halls, and brothels as the country grew more wealthy following the Civil War.

Like many other Americans at the time, Thompson was a devout Christian who was afraid that the country's growing riches and urban culture would have a negative impact on American lives. Nevertheless, he was determined to take action. Thompson was inspired by something other than women's hosiery while on a peaceful excursion to the Pennsylvania highlands. Thompson came spotted folks riding an old mining train — for joy – in the weirdly called town of Mauch Chunk in the state's eastern section.

Thompson's concept came from this. He sketched down ideas for a scaled-down version of the switchback railway he'd observed. It would have a few characteristics he'd seen in Pennsylvania, such as the "train" cars themselves and a ratchet device to keep the trains from rolling backwards. Finally, he patented his invention and designed the now-famous wooden frame structure.

The First Roller Coaster

The first Thompson "roller coaster" was built in 1884 on Coney Island, New York, which had become a popular tourist destination in the early 1800s. Coney Island featured theatres, a racetrack, and restaurants, and by the time the Civil War ended, it had become a neighbourhood favourite.

Although they were illegal, these "Houses of Pleasure" were essentially permitted with a knowing wink as long as everything was kept covert and orderly. It was for this reason that Thompson chose Coney Island. His "Switchback Railway" would get people out of the pubs and brothels and keep families together by getting them out in the fresh air.

The rides were widely available for all walks of social class as an entry ticket cost only a nickel. The top speed was less than ten miles per hour, according to some sources. However, except for a horse and a closed-in train, which were the usual form of transport, ten miles per hour was quick. There were no automobiles, planes, or bicycles available at the time. Thompson's original ride had a fifty-foot incline and a six-hundred-foot length.

The Success

The Roller Coaster was a considerable success, and Thompson earned around $600 per day after only three weeks – the equivalent of $15,000 per day now! Thompson made enhancements and patented them within a short period. Others quickly followed suit, creating their switchback railways. They gained popularity because several of them enhanced their speed. Thompson's amusement parks, which he began to develop across the country, steadily increased speed as well; still, he focused on adding novelties like tunnels, lighting, false mountains, and "scenery" next to the track, among other things.

The phrase "roller coaster" first became popular in the late 1880s, and it was most likely derived from the name of a form of winter ride that involved a toboggan on rollers being dragged to the top of a snowy hill, similar to Thompson's railway. Thompson was not, in fact, the inventor of the roller coaster. Similar gravity rides existed in France before Thompson's roller coaster, but they never caught on and were quickly forgotten. He died a wealthy man and provided a service for the people who would stand the test of time.

I think I’ll stay on the ground with all the non-adrenaline seekers, enjoying the safe, solid ground. But for all of you that want to, remember the true origins of the roller coaster. It may not have succeeded with its goal; it sure did provide years of fun across the globe. Just stay safe.

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