Friday, October 26, 2012
Brooklyn Timeline: Coney Island
Posted by Kristin Iversen on Fri, Oct 26, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Page 4 of 10
1830: Pirates!
Coney Island was not much more than a sleepy seaside locale for much of the 18th century. Any ambitions to exploit the areas shoreline and turn it into a port were thwarted because of the geographic reality of its shallow coastal waters, which prevented large ships from approaching land. No, this was an era of quiet for the community, which had its name bestowed due to the high population of rabbits-konijn in Dutch.
However, things would start to change in 1829 for Coney Island as a road was built from Coney Island to the mainland of Brooklyn. The Shell Road would change things for Coney Island, making it more accessible for all New Yorkers to reach, thus transforming Coney Island in the coming decades.
What does any of this have to do with pirates, you ask? Nothing. But! Also, in 1830, pirates who had overtaken the ship Vinland, came ashore in Coney Island to bury their treasure. A storm destroyed their boat and much of their treasure was scattered about the beach. What I'm trying to say is, grab a metal detector at your first available opportunity and GO GET SOME TREASURE. (ed. note: much of the treasure was found over the next few years, so there's probably not much left, but you never know)
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About The Author
Kristin Iversen
Kristin Iversen is the Managing Editor at Brooklyn Magazine and the L Magazine. She has been described as "a hipster buzzword made flesh." This seems pretty accurate.
