Freedomland U.S.A. Debuts On Pinterest

Sixty years ago on Father’s Day (June 19, 1960), the American history theme park known as Freedomland U.S.A. opened in The Bronx to nationwide fanfare. This year’s celebration of Freedomland's debut has placed a new spotlight on the park's history through online and print articles, promotions and advertisements, and a new presence on social media.

A Freedomland page has been added to Pinterest. Photos, or pins, related to Freedomland have appeared on Pinterest in the past, but now the social media platform features an area specifically dedicated to the park. Freedomland also can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A comprehensive book about the park, Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, recently was published and can be found on Amazon, Goodreads, Walmart, eBay and other online outlets.

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Presentations about the history of Freedomland at libraries, historical associations and schools in the greater New York City area have been suspended due to the health care crisis. Presentations are anticipated to resume later this year. To arrange a free presentation that includes vintage film, photographs and memorabilia, contact Freedomlandusa@yahoo.com .

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The Brief Story About Freedomland

Freedomland was created and built by C.V. Wood and his Marco Engineering company. Prior to creating his own theme parks, Wood was the first employee of Disneyland, helping Walt and Roy Disney build their park.

Freedomland featured seven themed areas – Little Old New York, Old Chicago, The Great Plains, San Francisco, Old Southwest, New Orleans and Satellite City. Attractions included vintage steam trains, fighting the Chicago Fire, cowboy shoot-outs and dark rides that recreated the San Francisco earthquake, a midwest Tornado and a pirate ride with design connections to Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. The Moon Bowl, a band shell that featured the world's largest outdoor dance floor, presented the leading music entertainment of the day, including Paul Anka, Louis Armstrong, Chubby Check, The Four Seasons and The Lennon Sisters along with swing and jazz orchestras.

Despite Freedomland's popularity, its unique history-themed attractions and the many celebrities who appeared at the park, America's theme park lasted just five seasons (1960-1964). Unknown to the creator of the park and the general public at the time, landowner William Zeckendorf, Sr., local politicians, city planners and construction unions considered the park a "placeholder" until property variances permitted significant development on the extensive Bronx marshland. The variances provided the green light for the construction of Co-op City, the largest cooperative housing community in the world.