The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) is honoring Karl Bacon and Ed Morgan, pioneers of amusement park design. Posthumously inducted into the 2025 NIHF class, these visionaries created the world’s first tubular steel track roller coaster—the Matterhorn Bobsleds—which debuted in 1959 at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Bacon and Morgan’s tubular steel track innovation revolutionized roller coaster design. It allowed for smoother, quieter rides and paved the way for modern coasters with loops, corkscrews, and longer drops. Their groundbreaking work remains a foundation of amusement park engineering.
The Celebration
The 17 Inductees of the 2025 class will be celebrated at “The Greatest Celebration of American Innovation” in Washington, D.C. Humorist Mo Rocca will emcee the events:
- May 7: Illumination Ceremony at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum in Alexandria, Virginia. New Inductees will place their names in the museum’s Gallery of Icons®.
- May 8: The Induction Ceremony at The Anthem will feature a black-tie dinner and honor the Inductees’ contributions. More details are available at https://www.invent.org/induction.
“The remarkable innovators in our Class of 2025 have made significant contributions to our lives,” said NIHF CEO Michael Oister. “Their creativity and determination have transformed the world.”
Disney’s Legacy of Innovation
Disney’s creative legacy earned back-to-back recognition from the National Inventors Hall of Fame. In 2024, the NIHF inducted Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot for his innovations, which include over 100 U.S. patents for Disney Parks. Smoot’s work actively shapes the magic of Disney today.
Honoring the Innovators
Bacon and Morgan’s contributions to the Matterhorn Bobsleds helped establish Disneyland as a hub of imagination and ingenuity. Their work continues to inspire dreamers and engineers worldwide, cementing their legacy in the history of amusement park innovation.
