Welcome to the new National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA) Web site. Recently there have been some exciting developments within the museum program, and we want to share some of the news with you. Our board, with the addition of several new members, is thrilled to support a new vision, backed by new leadership and a fresh new direction! This new website comes on the heels of the work of many who have prepared a program wrapped around what has become a substantial collection of roller coaster cars, models, photographs and other historical items and artifacts.

 

 

New product. We are excited to be launching this much anticipated museum Web site. The distinctive characteristics of this new tool will mark the start of a new direction and purpose. While many will see this as a work in progress, it is our ultimate goal that you will find the site refreshing and informative, and will return periodically as the site develops and is updated. We also hope that you will bring your own research, photographs and valuable opinions to the site, since it is expected to become the preeminent research tool for students, teachers, historians and researchers.

 

New opportunity. In an effort to take in a much broader view of the amusement industry, including all the great rides and attractions found at our favorite parks, the board now plans to collect and exhibit more than just its roller coaster collection. It is now dedicated to bringing together ALL the elements of the amusement industry, assisted by the most talented volunteers and artistic individuals from across the globe, to provide the most up-to-date and thorough exhibits available today.

 

New Timetable. With the launch of this Museum Web site, the new board has promised to work efficiently as it establishes partnerships with various parks and personnel, historians, other similar organizations and museums. The immediate goal is to assemble and build displays for several temporary exhibits set to be opened in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The exhibits will focus on local parks and include both the story of the roller coaster as well as images of celebrated parks no longer in existence. For the long term, the board expects to follow a critical path that will ultimately lead to the largest collection of historic amusement park items in one place on the planet! With your involvement this can happen!

 

 

The mission of the NRMCA has been the same since 2001 - to discover, preserve, interpret and share the historical heritage of the roller coaster for present and future generations. At the same time, it is the goal of the NRCMA board to become part of an established universal effort to make the public and industry aware of the importance of preserving its heritage, from the ongoing maintenance of older rides and attractions, to the safeguarding of crumbling remnants found in garages, park maintenance buildings, basements and attics. The ultimate goal is to protect these artifacts and make them accessible to those who love roller coasters and amusement parks! 

 

The opportunity to preserve an important part of American history, establish a permanent home for memorabilia and to save our amusement park legacy for future generations to enjoy, is too important to overlook. Although our timetable is not set in stone, we anticipate reaching the primary goal of having a foundation in the ground by 2010. It is a small step, but we believe in the mission and can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. We hope that you will join us in our effort to save the irreplaceable parts of the amusement industry, some of which has already been lost. There is a lot of work yet to be done, and there are a lot of ways that you can help. Please start by following our monthly updates and making donations, as your generosity will show the world just how exciting and enjoyable our avocation is – now and for generations long into the future. 

 

As we will continue to tailor the website to our readers’ tastes, please take the opportunity to check all the pages and topics, and get a feel for this site, as it will continue to grow with articles, photographs, information and commentary. As the museum project moves forward we will carry the stories of the industry’s rich past, introducing new historic details from lost and forgotten rides, as well as the latest stories on the modern classics. It is our objective to create an enjoyable and informative site, one that you will want to continue to support. 

 

As always, we welcome your comments.