KennywoodA Classroom for Learning

A booklet of worksheets for elementary and middle school students created by the

Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.

ContentsA Brief History of Kennywood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Transportation Through the Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Getting to Kennywood: Designing a Mass Transit System . . . . . . . 5

Making a Map of Kennywood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Designing an Arcade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

A First-Hand Account of Kennywood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Interview Follow-Up Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Making Kennywood Even Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Advertising a New Amusement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

The Potato Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Merry-Go-Round . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Kennywood After Dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Published by thePittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 450Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1134www.phlf.org

Copyright © 2002; updated 2007, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

Permission is granted to reproduce pages for individual classroom use only.Reproduction or translation of any part of this work beyond educational use without the permission of thePittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is unlawful.

The worksheets were created by Darren DeArment, an intern from the University of Pittsburgh, with assistancefrom Louise Sturgess, Mary Ann Eubanks, Laura Charles, and Tawnya Zemka, all of the Pittsburgh History &Landmarks Foundation.

The booklet was designed by Pytlik Design Associates.

The printing of this publication was made possible by the Revolving Fund for Education of the PittsburghHistory & Landmarks Foundation, established in 1984 through a generous grant from the Claude WorthingtonBenedum Foundation and later augmented through major grants from The Grable Foundation, The MaryHillman Jennings Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and an anonymous donor.

Sources:Jacques, Charles J., Jr. Kennywood: Roller Coaster Capital of the World. Vestal, NY: The Vestal Press, Ltd., 1982.

Jacques, Charles J., Jr. More Kennywood Memories. Jefferson, OH: Amusement Park Journal, 1998.

Kennywood Memories, producer and narrator Rick Sebak, 60 min., QED Communications, Inc., 1990,videocassette.

Your Task: 1. Read the section below on Kennywood’s history.

2. Then see what you remember by answering the six questions.

A Brief History of KennywoodKennywood is located on an important site. Back in 1755 British General Edward Braddock and 23-year-old

George Washington stopped for water and rest on the land that is now Kennywood. They were on an expeditionto capture the French fort “Du Quesne,” 10 miles west at the Point.

Beginning in the 1860s, from about the time of the Civil War, the site that is now Kennywood was called“Kenny’s Grove.” It was a popular place to picnic. In 1898 Kennywood was created as a “trolley park” at the end of the Monongahela Street Railroad Company. It was designed as a place where workers and their families could gather for games, rides, band concerts, and food.

In the 1900s, Kennywood was affected by the Depression and two World Wars. During the Great Depression,Kennywood managed to stay open by holding dances and school picnics. During World War II, service men andwomen in uniform received free admission into the park. Kennywood became an early leader in the “coaster wars”that began in the 1970s, when the New York Times named the Thunderbolt the “King of Coasters.” In 1987,Kennywood was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior because of itshistorical significance. In 1998, Kennywood celebrated its one hundredth birthday!

1. Why did General Braddock and George Washington come to this area in 1755?

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2. What did people do when they went to “Kenny’s Grove”?

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3. What saved Kennywood during the Great Depression?

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4. Who was admitted free to Kennywood during World War II?

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5. Who called the Thunderbolt the “King of Coasters”?

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6. What was Kennywood designated in recognition of its historical significance?

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Social Studies/Reading Comprehension

This is one of eight full-color posters (actual size 16.5'' x 23.5'') in the Landmark Survivors series.

For other titles in the series call or visit www.phlf.org

Getting to Kennywood: Designing aMass Transit SystemIn 1898, Kennywood was built at the end of a trolley line to both attract customers to the Monongahela StreetRailway (trolley) company, and to bring them to the new “trolley park.” The trolley car was really the firsturban mass transit system. A mass transit system carries large amounts of people to different points in andaround the city.

Your task:1. Please answer the following questions:

• How did you get to Kennywood today? ____________________________________________________________

• How do you think people got here about 60 years ago, say in 1950?

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• How do you think people got here 100 years ago? ___________________________________________________

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• Design a new mass transit system for Pittsburgh. In the space below, draw a picture of what your new formof transportation might look like. Your system can be made up of several different types of vehicles if youlike.

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Social Studies

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Transportation Through the YearsYour task:Match the written description with the correct illustration.

A. 1. The invention of this form of transportation caused an explosionin commerce and travel from Pittsburgh to New Orleans.

B. 2. The French in Canada traveled in this from Lake Erie to theMississippi River.

C. 3. This method of transportation allowed for the growth andexpansion of Pittsburgh’s suburbs after the Civil War.

D. 4. Early settlers used this to travel from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.

E. 5. This “iron horse” connected Pittsburgh to the Pacific Ocean.

F. 6. This connects Pittsburgh with the rest of the world, makingPittsburgh an international city.

G. 7. The Heinz family was the first to own one of these in Pittsburgh.Now, most families in the Pittsburgh region have at least one ofthese.

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Social Studies

The vehicles in my mass transit system

Answer Key

1(E) 2(F) 3(D) 4(A) 5(B) 6(C) 7(G)

Making a Map of KennywoodYour task:1. Pretend that you have been hired by Kennywood to design a map of “Lost Kennywood” for children.

2. Go to Lost Kennywood and, in the space below, sketch the pathways, buildings, rides, attractions, and otherlandmarks that you see.

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Social Studies/Art

Getting to Kennywood (continued)Your task:1. On the map below, trace the path of your new mass transit system from downtown Pittsburgh to

Kennywood.2. Think about the following questions:

• Will your mass transit system go under, over, or around existing buildings?• How will your mass transit system get across the rivers?• What stops will your mass transit system make en route to Kennywood?• Will someone visiting Point State Park, Station Square, or the stadiums be able to get to Kennywood via

your transit system?

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Social Studies

3. Back in your classroom, use your sketch to create a map of Lost Kennywood on a piece of poster board.• You can include trees, food stands, and even people.• Make your map eye-catching and colorful!

My map of Lost Kennywood

HeinzField

A First-Hand Account of KennywoodFamilies in Pittsburgh have been going to Kennywood for generations.

Your task:1. Interview at least one friend or family member to learn about his/her experiences at Kennywood.

Complete the worksheet below.

Interview Worksheet

Date: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Location: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Name (and relation) of person being interviewed: ______________________________________________________

Goal of interview: _________________________________________________________________________________

Suggested questions:1. How old were you when you first went to Kennywood? ______________________________________________

2. When was the last time you went to Kennywood?____________________________________________________

3. How has Kennywood changed over the years?

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4. Do you feel that some things have remained the same?

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5. Why do you think people keep coming back to Kennywood?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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6. What is your favorite ride?

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Social Studies/Language Arts

Designing an ArcadeWhat is an arcade?An arcade is a large building usually located near the center of an amusement park. It has different games —skeeball, “horsey rides,” and racing games — and, traditionally, small, manual motion-picture machines to lookinto called Nickelodeons.

Your task:Pretend you are an architect at the Three Rivers Amusement and Coaster Consortium (TRACC). You have beenhired to design an arcade at Lost Kennywood. About 100 people should be able to enjoy being in your arcadeat any one time.

1. On a separate piece of paper, draw a floor plan (bird’s eye view) of your arcade. You can include a secondfloor, if you wish.

2. Next, draw the front of the building (an elevation).

3. Draw the other three (or more) sides of the building (also elevations).

4. Add color to your drawings if you wish.

5. Cut out the front and side walls. Tape them to your floor plan and create a paper model based on yourdrawings.

For inspiration, look at these pictures of buildings that were once at Kennywood.

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Art

over

Interview Follow-Up ProjectsYour task:Meet with other students in your class, and create a group project based on facts you discovered during yourinterview.

Timeline/Skit1. Create a timeline by writing down all the facts that everyone learned during their interviews. Write and

perform a skit based on the events on your timeline.

Kennywood Video2. Create a video of Kennywood memories, based on information collected during the interviews.

Construct a Model3. Work in groups to construct models of some of the buildings that are no longer standing at Kennywood.

Publication4. Publish a booklet of Kennywood Memories, based on the student interviews.

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Social Studies/Language Arts/Art

7. Is there a special memory about Kennywood that you would like to share?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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Write down any additional questions you would like to ask:8. Question:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: ________________________________________________________________________________________

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9. Question:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: ________________________________________________________________________________________

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10. Question: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:_______________________________________________________________________________________

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11. Question: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:_______________________________________________________________________________________

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12. Question: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:_______________________________________________________________________________________

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Social Studies/Language Arts

Advertising a New AmusementKennywood attracts over one million people every season, because there is usually a new special event or rideand because it’s always fun to return to a favorite, familiar place.

Your Task:1. Pretend you are an advertising consultant for the Three Rivers Amusement and Coaster Consortium

(TRACC).

2. Design a new ride for Kennywood.

3. Develop an advertising campaign that will make everyone want to try your new ride. In your advertisingcampaign:• Create a 30-second announcement for the radio• design a poster that could be displayed in schools

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Language Arts/Art

Making Kennywood Even BetterHow can we make Kennywood an even better place to visit?

Your task:1. Walk around Kennywood and write down any problems that you see. Are lines too long? Should there be

more food stands? Should there be more restrooms? Do you see litter anywhere?

2. Suggest a solution for each problem. Include drawings, if you wish, that show your ideas.

3. Then write down what you think is good about Kennywood.

Problems that you notice: Solutions to those problems:

1. _____________________________________________ 1. ___________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________ 2. ___________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________ 3. ___________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________ 4. ___________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________ 5. ___________________________________________

Good things to continue:

1. _____________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________

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Business/Language Arts

A drawing of a new ride

Poster for school

30-second radio announcement:

The Potato PatchYour task:Solve this story problem.

How many potatoes does the Potato Patch use in one day?

Helpful hints:Read the clues in the information bank below and follow this procedure:

1. During one season, how many pounds of potatoes does the Potato Patch use? _______________

2. Approximately how many pounds of potatoes are used on any one day during the season? _______________

3. Therefore, how many potatoes are used on any one day? _______________

The Merry-Go-RoundYour task:Determine how many times the carousel goes full circle in one minute.

To solve this problem:

1. Pick out your favorite animal on the merry-go-round. Write what it is here:________________

2. Next, look at the second hand on your watch. When the second hand approaches the 12 (or 00 on a digitalwatch), start timing one minute.

3. Count how many times your animal passes by you in one minute.

Trial oneTimes per minute:_____________

4. Do this a few more times to make sure the merry-go-round is consistent. If you come-up with differentnumbers each time, take the average of the three trial counts.

Trial two Trial threeTimes per minute:_____________ Times per minute:_____________

Average times per minute:__________________

The number you have is the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the merry-go-round. Compare your numberwith the number that other students compute to see if they came up with the same number.

Use this same method to figure out the RPM of the Aero 360?1. Choose an arm with “Kennywood” written on it. 2. Locate a fixed point that the arm will pass.3. Count the number of times the arm goes passed the fixed point in one minute.

Trial one Trial two Trial threeTimes per minute:_____________ Times per minute:_____________ Times per minute:_____________

Average times per minute:__________________

RPM of the Aero 360:______________

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Math

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Math

Information Bank 1. Every season Kennywood’s Potato Patch

uses about 200 tons of potatoes.

2. There are 2,000 pounds in one ton.

3. Assume each potato weighs one pound.

4. Assume Kennywood Park is open 121 daysduring the season.

Answer Key

3,306 potatoes

1. 40,000 2. 3,306 3. 3,306

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Kennywood After DarkWhen you leave Kennywood, do you wonder what happens when all the lights go off and everyone goes home?Is Kennywood really deserted, or does a second shift of visitors arrive after the first shift leaves? (Maybe thosewho have visited Kennywood in the past like to keep coming back!)

Your Task:Be imaginative! Write a short story about what you think happens when Kennywood closes. You can write astory that’s spooky, silly, or fantastic—be creative!

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Language Arts

Is Your School a Member of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation?

If not, join and save• 50% on all school tours

• 50% on the Portable Pittsburgh Artifact Kit

• 50% on the LANDMARK SURVIVORS poster series

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And receive• free copies (while supplies last) of a Pittsburgh poster, postcard,

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Call Mary Lu at 412-471-5808 ext. 527 for a membership application or download one off our Web site: www.phlf.org.

Published for the members of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

No. 172 April 2007

In this issue:3Four Getty Campus Heritage ReportsCompleted

5PHLF Awards $87,245 to 22 Historic Religious Properties

10Ready for Sale: Four PHLF-Restored Houses in Wilkinsburg

20Membership Events: 2007

P r o t e c t i n g t h e P l a c e s t h a t M a k e P i t t s b u r g h H o m eNonprofit Org.U. S. PostagePA I DPittsburgh, PAPermit No. 598

buildings at Market Street and FifthAvenue, downtown, into residential and commercial space. “This is a majorrestoration project that Landmarks is undertaking to help spark the revital-ization of architecturally significanthistoric buildings in the Fifth/Forbescorridor,” said Landmarks presidentArthur Ziegler. “We are raising moneyto help fund the ‘green’ aspects of therestoration and to subsidize the apart-ments so they can be more affordable.”

On January 9, Landmarks purchased439 and 441 Market Street and 130 Fifth Avenue from the UrbanRedevelopment Authority for $257,000.“Unfortunately, these buildings werepermitted to deteriorate severely underthe former Mayor Tom Murphy’sadministration,” said Arthur. One, theformer home of Alexander Graham BellCafé, suffered a fire; then the adminis-tration did not repair the roof and it

eventually fell into thebasement,taking threefloors with it.

Market at Fifth isseeking a“Leadershipin Energy and

After eight years of controversy andmisguided policies, redevelopment of the Fifth/Forbes corridor downtown ismoving ahead, and several key projectsare incorporating preservation and“green”-building principles. “Green” buildings are purposely

designed to preserve the natural environ-ment as much as possible and to providehealthy, productive places for people.Because of the quality building materialsused in historic structures and largewindows and well-proportioned spaces,the “greenest” developments are oftenthose that reuse historic structures. After co-sponsoring the “Greening ofHistoric Properties National Summit” on October 30, 2006, the PittsburghHistory & Landmarks Foundation isputting many of the recommendationsdiscussed that day into practice as ittransforms three endangered historic

Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 450Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1134www.phlf.org

Address Service Requested

Market at Fifth, LP, is a downtown revitalizationproject of the Pittsburgh History & LandmarksFoundation using “green”-building principles.Seven rental apartments and one commercial unit in three historic buildings at Market Street and Fifth Avenue are expected to be ready for occupancy this fall. Interested? Call: 412-471-5808, ext. 511; michael@phlf.org

The Urban Redevelopment Authorityof Pittsburgh was instrumental in facili-tating Landmarks’ acquisition of thesebuildings. According to Eugene Matta,director of real estate and specialdevelopment programs at Landmarks,“The URA was exceptional in workingwith us to acquire these buildings, andtheir hard work has helped us get theproject moving quickly.” In contrast to the Murphy administra-

tion’s approach of trying to attract onemaster developer from out-of-town torevitalize the Fifth/Forbes corridor,Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is following the approach set by the late Mayor BobO’Connor in allowing local privatedevelopers to tackle the redevelopmentof many City-owned buildings. Accordingto Michael, who led a team of HeinzSchool students to study the housingmarket in downtown Pittsburgh in2005, “This approach leads to morecreative and sustainable solutionsbecause those developers who are locallybased have a better grasp of the localmarket, are used to dealing with theintricacies of the local political system,and are invested in the Pittsburghregion.” Millcraft Industries, Inc. ofWashington County and PNC FinancialServices Group––both headquartered inthe Pittsburgh region––are makingsignificant investments in the Fifth/Forbes corridor, thus proving the logicof a local development strategy.

PHLF News

Environmental Design” (LEED) ratingbased on more than 26 green features.Sterling Contracting LLC is serving asgeneral contractor; Landmarks DesignAssociates is project architect; andevolve is the green-building consultant.

The space within the three historicbuildings is being reconfigured tofunction together and will contain seven upper-floor apartments and acommercial first-floor tenant, mostlikely a restaurant. The residential unitshave spacious layouts and exceptionaldesigns. “Our two top units will featurea dual-floor layout with private decksoverlooking a ‘green’ rooftop garden,”said Michael Sriprasert, Landmarks’assistant for real estate programs. The purpose of the green roof is toabsorb moisture and reduce water run-off. Rents will range from about$1,100 for a one-bedroom/one-bath unit to about $1,900 for a two-bedroom/two-bath unit. “Having a developmentproject in the center of an emerginghousing market is very exciting,” saidMichael, “and it’s our goal to have theseunits leased soon after they’re completedthis fall, if not before.”Plans are still in the works for the

commercial space, but the concept is for a restaurant that will provide acomfortable space for both the businessexecutive and the casual diner. Marketat Fifth is located within the MarketSquare Historic District and will face anew park being developed by PNCacross the street on Fifth Avenue.

PHLF Begins Work on Three Downtown Properties

PITTSBURGH HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOUNDATION

Founded in 1964, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is a non-profit historic preservation group serving Allegheny County. It is dedicated to identifying and preserving the architectural landmarks, historic neighborhoods, and historic designed landscapes of Allegheny County, and to educating people about this region’s architectural heritage and urban and landscape design history.

Landmarks’ offices and reference library are located on the fourth floor of The Landmarks Building at Station Square.

If you are not yet a member of Landmarks, please join! Call 412-471-5808, ext. 527, for membership information or for details on our tours, preservation services, educational programs, and publications. Or visit our Web site at www.phlf.org.

P I T T S B U R G H H I S T O R Y & L A N D M A R K S F O U N D A T I O N

Protect ing the Places that Make Pittsburgh Home

100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 450 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1134 Phone 412-471-5808 Fax 412-471-1633 www.phlf.org

Education HotlineE-mail: maryann@phlf.orgPhone: 412-471-5808 ext. 537