LaMarcus Adna Thompson
Encyclopedia
LaMarcus Adna Thompson was a US inventor and businessman most famous for developing many highly enjoyable gravity rides.
), American inventor and businessman, who was known as the "Father of the Gravity Ride" for his Switchback Railway
at Coney Island
, in New York City
, the first gravity-powered roller coaster
built in the United States
.
A natural at mechanics
, Thompson at age 12 designed and built a butter churn
and an oxcart
, and by age 17 he was a master carpenter
. After completing his education at Hillsdale College
in Michigan
in 1866, he worked briefly in the wagon
and carriage
business before making a mint as a manufacturer of women's seamless hosiery
.
A near nervous breakdown
in the early 1880s led to Thompson selling his stake in the hosiery company, so he returned to his first national passion of inventing. Inspired by a ride years earlier on the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway in Pennsylvania
and by designs by other inventors, Thompson built his own highly successful Switchback at Coney Island in 1884. Within four years, he had built about 50 more across the nation and in Europe
.
After more advanced coasters siphoned away his business, Thompson began work, along with designer James A. Griffiths, on his most famous attraction—the Scenic Railway. Opened in 1887 on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., it was a rolling tour through elaborate artificial scenery—vividly colored tableaus, biblical scenes, and flora—illuminated by lights triggered by the approaching cars. This would be the precursor to Space Mountain
of Disneyland, in Anaheim, Calif.
, and other theme park journeys.
Until 1915, Thompson built numerous scenic railways—including his 1910 masterpiece of faux-mountain and Egyptian imagery in Venice, Calif.--eventually facing competition from his old partner Griffiths. Even after retirement, he patented an automatic car coupler and sold the invention to railroad car manufacturer, George Pullman
. After Thompson's death in 1919, his legacy lived on through Thompson Company coasters, notably the Bobs (later Tornado
), built at Coney Island in 1926.
Early years
Thompson, La Marcus, in full LA MARCUS ADNA THOMPSON (b. March 8, 1848, Jersey, Ohio, U.S.--d. May 8, 1919, Glen Cove, New YorkGlen Cove, New York
Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....
), American inventor and businessman, who was known as the "Father of the Gravity Ride" for his Switchback Railway
Switchback railway
The original Switchback Railway at Coney Island was the first roller coaster designed as an amusement ride in America. It was designed by LaMarcus Adna Thompson in 1881 and constructed in 1884. It appears Thompson based his design, at least in part, on the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway which was a...
at Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the first gravity-powered roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
built in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
A natural at mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment....
, Thompson at age 12 designed and built a butter churn
Butter churn
A butter churn is a device used to convert cream into butter. This is done through a mechanical process, frequently via a pole inserted through the lid of the churn, or via a crank used to turn a rotating device inside the churn.-Process:...
and an oxcart
Oxcart
Oxcart or ox cart can mean:*Bullock cart, a cart pulled by oxen*CIA codename for the program to produce the Lockheed A-12 spyplaneSee also:*Ox-Cart Library*Ox-Cart Man*Red River ox cart...
, and by age 17 he was a master carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
. After completing his education at Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 1866, he worked briefly in the wagon
Wagon
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....
and carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
business before making a mint as a manufacturer of women's seamless hosiery
Hosiery
Hosiery, also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as hose...
.
A near nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
in the early 1880s led to Thompson selling his stake in the hosiery company, so he returned to his first national passion of inventing. Inspired by a ride years earlier on the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and by designs by other inventors, Thompson built his own highly successful Switchback at Coney Island in 1884. Within four years, he had built about 50 more across the nation and in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
After more advanced coasters siphoned away his business, Thompson began work, along with designer James A. Griffiths, on his most famous attraction—the Scenic Railway. Opened in 1887 on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., it was a rolling tour through elaborate artificial scenery—vividly colored tableaus, biblical scenes, and flora—illuminated by lights triggered by the approaching cars. This would be the precursor to Space Mountain
Space Mountain (Disneyland)
Space Mountain is a steel roller coaster attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. After the success of the Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain, the Imagineers made plans to build another on the United States West Coast. The ride opened on May 27, 1977, ten years after the...
of Disneyland, in Anaheim, Calif.
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, and other theme park journeys.
Until 1915, Thompson built numerous scenic railways—including his 1910 masterpiece of faux-mountain and Egyptian imagery in Venice, Calif.--eventually facing competition from his old partner Griffiths. Even after retirement, he patented an automatic car coupler and sold the invention to railroad car manufacturer, George Pullman
George Pullman
George Mortimer Pullman was an American inventor and industrialist. He is known as the inventor of the Pullman sleeping car, and for violently suppressing striking workers in the company town he created, Pullman .-Background:Born in Brocton, New York, his family moved to Albion,...
. After Thompson's death in 1919, his legacy lived on through Thompson Company coasters, notably the Bobs (later Tornado
Tornado (Coney Island)
The Tornado was a roller coaster in Coney Island. The Tornado was built in 1926 by L.A. Thompson which later on also built the Coney Island Cyclone. The roller coaster cost $250,000 and was built in 1926 with drops, tight turns and crossovers. It was wooden/steel.The roller coaster was destroyed by...
), built at Coney Island in 1926.