New York Civil War Buffs Got Hooked On The Bronx Version Of War

Three Civil War Round Table of New York past-presidents – Patrick Falci, Bill Finlayson and the author of a new theme park book – became interested in history, especially Civil War history, at the same period in time. All of them were influenced by their personal experiences as children at The Bronx history theme park known as Freedomland U.S.A.

The park lasted five seasons (1960-1964) that coincided with the national Civil War centennial commemoration. All three past-presidents vividly recall Freedomland’s recreation of the Chicago Fire, the Wild West shoot-outs and the boat ride through the Northwest Passage. Each of them, though, was drawn specifically to the park’s Civil War attraction. During their family visits to Freedomland, each of the Civil War buffs boarded horse-drawn correspondents’ wagons under a flag of truce and then traveled between the lines as rifle and cannon fire, in this first phase of audio-animatronics, soared over their young heads.

The distinct memories of that attraction by Falci and Finlayson are featured in the book--Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History . Many families from Pennsylvania, including those who lived in Harrisburg and Gettysburg, enjoyed car or bus trips to New York City to experience Freedomland.

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A presentation about the history of Freedomland that includes vintage film, photographs and memorabilia can be arranged by local libraries, historical groups and other organizations. Contact Freedomlandusa@yahoo.com .

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“At Freedomland, I heard the roar of the cannon and through the smoke, the gleam of the bayonet,” recalls Falci in the book. “This is what it must have looked like between the Blue and the Gray.”

Falci portrayed General A.P. Hill in the film Gettysburg. He was an historical advisor for that film and the prequel Gods and Generals. He continues to portray General Hill at meetings of historical organizations, Civil War Round Tables and at Civil War re-enactments.

Freedomland’s Rise And Fall

The rise and fall of Freedomland, documented through original research, contemporary media, and interviews with employees, character actors and guests, delivers a detailed history of the park and its attractions. The book (also follow the Freedomland Facebook group) touches on Bronx and theme park history before it weaves the tale about Freedomland’s creation (by the same executive who built Disneyland) and the planned declared bankruptcy that coincided with land variances that permitted commercial development on the Northeast Bronx marshland. The Co-op City residential housing development (population 40,000-plus) and a shopping center have occupied the property for a handful of decades.

Finlayson traces an ancestor to the USS Monitor. He experienced the Civil War attraction at Freedomland many times, and it “…became my all-time favorite thing to see in the park.” Over the years, he even traced the march of some of the troops to their post-Freedomland assignment in Gettysburg.

A company of the stationary fiberglass soldiers from the attraction bivouacked for years at the museum owned by Charley Weaver. The entertainer and historian also had operated a small museum near the Civil War attraction at Freedomland. Finlayson’s research supported the author’s efforts to document the movement of the Freedomland soldiers to Gettysburg. Following Weaver’s death, his Gettysburg museum changed hands. When the museum closed a few years ago, the Freedomland soldiers were sold and transferred to points unknown.

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Anyone with information about the soldiers at both Freedomland and the Gettysburg museum should contact the author (Freedomlandusa@yahoo.com).

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Published by Theme Park Press, Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History is available on Amazon, eBay, Goodreads and other online stores.