Luna Park

Frederick Ingersoll (1876-1927) created the world's first chain of amusement parks.  Luna Park (first Ingersoll park of this name) was an amusement park in Pittsburgh from 1905 to 1909, constructed and owned by Frederick Ingersoll and modelled after Luna Park on Coney Island.  The park consisted of about 16 to 17 acres bounded by Baum Boulevard, North Craig Street and Center Avenue. The park featured regular performances of bands, acrobatic acts, animal acts, horse riders, aerial acts and included roller coasters, picnic pavilions, carousels, a fun house, a ferris wheel, a roller-rink, a shoot-the-chutes ride, concert shell, dance hall, bumper cars, and a baby incubator exhibit. The cost of upgrading and maintaining the chain of parks constructed by Ingersoll became too much and he declared bankruptcy in 1911.  Luna Park opened on May 25, 1905 and was closed in 1909.