Roller coaster history books/sites/resources

[BBH]

I'm considering doing an extensive research project on the history of roller coasters - origins from the Russian ice slides in France, significant figures in design and history, how technology has progressed, etc. To do this, I will need resources, and plenty of them. I'd like some recommendations for good online websites/books/other resources easily available to me in America. Any suggestions or ideas? All help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[furie]

There are older sites out there that cover this. This is the best one I found:
http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/

A lot are reiterated and finding the original stuff is difficult, but sometimes reading a few bits and bobs you can pick up some information.

Try:
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005075F/ ... asters.htm
and
http://www.coasterville.com/history.htm

There's also the history I wrote about wooden coasters (UK bias):
http://www.coasterforce.com/coasters/hi ... n-coasters

And the lament to UK coasters:
http://www.coasterforce.com/cf-media/ar ... f-uk-rides

Both are based on the top link above and other sites I dug out. Often pages dedicated to a single park, that you then use to find links to other things you didn't know and to go on to other dedicated park pages. It's a fantastic fact trail to follow.

There are also some really good books, a lot of them are in web format too if you can find the links. Again, I tend to come across them when looking for specific information on specific parks and then BAM! Whole book with fantastic history. Take a look in the "Photos of old rides" topic and find my posts, I think I've posted a lot of links to books and the like in there.

Finally, for physical gratification, Joyland books is excellent:
http://www.joylandbooks.com/

Personally, I recommend chasing up these few links, then picking a specific and unusual coaster/designer/park. You'll suddenly find it branches out into a huge web of facts and knowledge. Then your brain will melt. Have fun

 

[jolash]

I did a small PowerPoint on the history way way back in I wanna say 9th grade. Of course I missed a lot of crucial milestones in coaster development, like up-stop wheels, but I hit most of the other stuff.

You can probably just use Wikipedia, I'm pretty sure there's a roller coaster history page on there. Now before anyone jumps on me for saying that, most things on Wikipedia are cited right there on the page. Use those links as sources cited and follow the links for even broader information.

 

[Hyde]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_coaster#History