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Alanson Wood
(1829 - 1909)
Patented the Roller Coaster and Roller Skates
![Circular Railway Drawing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fea8c9_4ad3e21fcda145879ffbce085edf0cab~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_135,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/fea8c9_4ad3e21fcda145879ffbce085edf0cab~mv2.jpg)
Circular Railway Drawing
![Patent Drawing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fea8c9_212a033e32514bf49ce6af9a7eb1be38~mv2_d_1808_2800_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_228,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/fea8c9_212a033e32514bf49ce6af9a7eb1be38~mv2_d_1808_2800_s_2.jpg)
Patent Drawing
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fea8c9_927b4c8b8f3545f982eb7919b847f8c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_150,h_437,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/fea8c9_927b4c8b8f3545f982eb7919b847f8c0~mv2.jpg)
![Circular Railway Drawing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fea8c9_4ad3e21fcda145879ffbce085edf0cab~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_135,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/fea8c9_4ad3e21fcda145879ffbce085edf0cab~mv2.jpg)
Circular Railway Drawing
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A carpenter, builder, and inventor who patented the roller coaster and roller skates, he came to Toledo as a poor carpenter until he sold his invention of the roller skate for a large sum in 1881. In 1883, he invented the first roller coaster, the forerunner of the "Figure 8" and sold the rights on a royalty basis.
In his last years, he worked on plans for a flying machine. For more on Wood, click here.
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