A trolley park built on the site of a bloody colonial battle
In short: Before it was a landmark for roller coasters, this Pennsylvania park was a picnic grove during the Civil War and sat across the river from a site of brutal colonial warfare. It is one of only thirteen remaining trolley parks in the United States.
Kennywood's history is deeply intertwined with the geography of conflict. Situated within West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, this area lies on the opposite bank of the Monongahela River from where the July 9, 1755, Battle of the Monongahela occurred. During this engagement of the French and Indian War, British General Edward Braddock was mortally wounded while attempting to capture the French Fort Duquesne. George Washington served as a colonel under Braddock during the expedition.
The transition from a site of war to a place of leisure began with Anthony Kenny's farm. During the American Civil War, the bluff overlooking the river became a popular picnic spot known as "Kenny's Grove." By 1898, the Monongahela Street Railways Company—partially owned by banker Andrew Mellon—leased the land to create a trolley park. The goal was to boost weekend fare profits by providing an attraction at the end of their rail line.
The park has maintained its historical integrity enough to be designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. While it evolved into a major entertainment hub featuring rides like the Figure Eight Toboggan (added in 1902) and various themed lands, it remains a rare survivor of the trolley park era. Even its local culture is unique; residents have used the phrase "Kennywood's open" as a specific regional joke since at least the 1940s.
Today, the park continues to navigate its complex heritage, balancing its status as a historic landmark with modern expansions like Steelers Country (2019) and Area 412 (2023). It stands as a physical timeline of Pennsylvania's shift from colonial warfare to industrial-era transit and finally to modern commercial recreation.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Kennywood
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