Do you love the thrills, chills and spills of roller coasters? Well then throw your hands up in the air and scream, because Thursday marks a big anniversary for the exciting ride. On June 16, 1884 ...

The roller coaster has seen a lot of twists and turns in its uniquely American life, and with 134 years under its belts, pulleys and tracks, there are no signs of stopping now. On this day in 1884 ...

The Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway inspired America's first roller coaster. (Library of Congress) On this day in 1884, the first roller coaster in America opened at Coney Island -- but it never ...

The first coaster in the U.S. only went six miles per hour. June 16 is stamped in history books as the birth of the roller coaster in the U.S. and this ... Thompson opened his Switchback Railway.

Whether you’re a fan of it or not, you can thank LaMarcus Thompson and his 1885 patent for the switchback gravity railway for America’s roller coaster industry. After becoming a master carpenter at ...

The 50-foot-tall Gravity Pleasure Switch Back Railway reached a top speed of 6 mph over a 600-foot-long track. The world’s first wooden shuttle coaster, which may have operated for as little as ...

On June 16, 1884 -- or 132 years ago -- the first roller coaster in America opened in America. The roller coaster -- dubbed the Switchback Railway -- premiered at Coney Island in Brooklyn.

On June 16, 1884 -- or 132 years ago -- the first roller coaster in America opened in America. The roller coaster -- dubbed the Switchback Railway -- premiered at Coney Island in Brooklyn.