Monorail, Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, 1981

Originally opened in 1897, Steeplechase was one of Coney Island’s original parks, which also included Dreamland and Luna Parks. It closed in 1964 and was bought by Fred Trump, Donald Trump’s father, and demolished before it could be landmarked in a failed attempt to build condos. It later reopened with children’s amusement park rides in 1970, was again abandoned in 1980, and torn down to make way for a stadium for the minor league baseball team the Brooklyn Cyclones

Photograph: Phillip Buehler