Roller Coasters, Racism, and Chicago Home Movies

The popularity of the Midway Plaisance at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair spurred on the development of the American amusement park. Indeed, shortly after the Fair closed, amusement parks began to appear across the country, many located in and around Chicago.

This virtual tour offers you a brief history of select amusement parks in Chicago through the lens of home movies. It also details the racism behind a popular game adults and children played at these parks. Finally, with the help of our HD video camera, you'll walk to the current location of the sign that welcomed families to an amusement park in Melrose Park, IL, called Kiddieland.

NOTE: This virtual event includes historical material involving the use of offensive racial epithets.