The Skooter (05-21)

Historical narrative

The Dodgem, originally known as the Skooter, was one of Glen Echo Park's signature attractions and possibly the first bumper-car ride of its kind in the United States. Installed in 1923, the Skooter featured 25 electrically powered, two-passenger cars that operated on a steel floor and invited riders to spin, swerve, and gleefully collide with friends and strangers alike. In 1931, new front-wheel-drive cars arrived, and the ride was renamed the Dodgem. Each experience began with the hum of electric motors and the smell of warm wood from the pavilion. Drivers gripped the steering wheel, searched for an opening, then bounced from car to car amid laughter, scraping cars, and ringing impacts. For young riders, every collision brought another burst of excitement, and there was always another car to chase. This was one of Steve's go-to rides at Glen Echo.

Watercolor

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved