LANDMARKS

lm-shore-hotel

photo: Charles Denson

Save Coney Island is working with other Coney Island and preservation groups to preserve and promote Coney Island’s historic district. Save Coney Island believes that Coney Island’s historic buildings should form the centerpiece around which redevelop a new and exciting 21st-century Coney Island, with attractions such as Luna Park.

In August of 2010, the State Historic Preservation Office determined the Coney Island Historic District eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.  Shortly thereafter, however, Thor Equities was issued permits to demolish two buildings within the District.

It is a miracle that any of these buildings survived the fires, land speculation, and urban renewal plans that decimated Coney Island over the years. It would be a shame to lose these rare survivors, just when their rehabilitation could provide a necessary boost to Coney’s revival.


Coney Island’s architecture has changed a lot over its long history.  There are some buildings that have lasted through many decades of changes, however, with the earliest building in the amusement district dating from around 1889. Four official landmarks already in Coney Island- Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel, the Parachute Jump, and the Child’s Restaurant building on the boardwalk- but the new rezoning plan passed by the city council threatens other structures that are worthy of preservation. Save Coney Island is dedicated to preserving these important incarnations of Coney Island history and joins the efforts of Coney Island USA and the Municipal Arts Society to landmark the following buildings and structures: -The Child’s Restaurant of Surf Avenue (the home of Coney Island USA) -The Shore Hotel Building -The Grashorn Building -The B & B Carousell -Nathan’s Famous -Henderson’s Theater We offer here a list of the historic structures in Coney Island and a bit about them.

Click here to see a map of the historic buildings in Coney Island and the proposed Historic District.
NOT YET LANDMARKED:
nathans-lm2
Nathan’s Famous
1308 Surf Avenue
Proposed for NYC Landmark Designation; Eligible for the State and National Register
Built: 1920s
lm-surfhotelShore Hotel
1228 Surf Avenue
Other Historic Resource
Built: c. 1900
bank-lm2

photo: Charles Denson

Bank of Coney Island
W. 12th St. at Surf Ave.
Other Historic Resource
Built: 1923

lm-popper Herman Popper Building
1220 Surf Avenue
Other Historic Resource
Built c. 1904
grashorn-lm2 Grashorn Building
1104 Surf Avenue
Proposed for NYC Landmark Designation
Built: c. 1889
Oldest Building in Coney Island
lm-hendersons Henderson’s Music Hall
3001-3023 Stillwell Avenue
Proposed for NYC Landmark Designation
Built: 1899
lm-shore Shore Theater
1301 Surf Avenue Proposed for NYC Landmark Designation; Eligible for the State and National Register Built: 1925
lm-childs-surf Child’s Restaurant on Surf Avenue/Coney Island USA Building
1208 Surf Avenue
Proposed for NYC Landmark Designation; Eligible for the State and National Register Built: 1917
lm-bb-car B & B Carousell
Proposed for NYC Landmark Designation
Built: 1919 / 1930s
lm-astroland

Astroland Tower (Astrotower)
Eligible for the State and National Register
Built: 1964

LANDMARKED:
Cyclonelm-cyclone
NYC Landmark; State and National Register of Historic Places
Built: 1927
lm-parachuteParachute Jump
NYC Landmark; State and National Register of Historic Places Built: 1939/1941
lm-wonderwheel Wonder Wheel
NYC Landmark
Built: 1920
lm-childs-bw Child’s Restaurant
on the Boardwalk, 2102 Boardwalk
NYC Landmark
Built: 1924