61: America's First Roller Coaster and the Case of the Hollow Nickel

A Great Big City — New York City News, History, and Events

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more.

• 123 years ago on June 15, 1897 — A fire sweeps through Ellis Island's wood buildings

• 136 years ago on June 16, 1884 — America's first roller coaster opens in Coney Island

• 72 years ago on June 16, 1948 — Australian adventurer Ben Carlin and his wife Elinore launch their amphibious jeep into New York Bay in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe

• 67 years ago on June 22, 1953 — The Hollow Nickel Case

• 45 years ago on June 24, 1975 — Eastern Air Flight 66 crashes on approach at JFK Airport, killing 113 people

• 101 years ago on June 26, 1919 — The first issue of the Illustrated Daily News is published, which would become the modern-day New York Daily News

• Manhattanhenge Photography Tips and Viewing Locations

---

A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more.

AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts.

---

Park of the day

• Michel Triangle — Clay Av bet. E 171 St and Claremont Pkwy, the Bronx — Michel Triangle is bounded by Clay Avenue, Webster Avenue, and East 165th Street. The road that is now Clay Avenue, between 164th and 167th Streets, was part of the old General Staats Morris' racetrack that had been laid out in 1750 and survived through the mid-1800s.

---

Did you know?

Here's something you may not have known about New York:

• The largest class of Staten Island Ferry can carry 6,000 passengers

Weather

The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history:
Record High: 98°F on June 19, 1994
Record Low: 48°F on June 18, 1950

Weather for the week ahead:
Possible light rain on Sunday and Tuesday.

• AGBC Weather
• Weather.gov forecast

---

Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email [e-mail] with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Overcast, TuneIn Radio, RadioPublic, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode.

Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Manhattanhenge music: Anonymous420