Atlantic City Boardwalk Facts

Historical fact: The first Miss America pageant took place in Atlantic City in 1921 and the city.

This is a copy of a page from the Library of Congress (LOC) website. It was featured on the LOC website on June 26, 2001, in honor of the birthday of the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk.

On the Boardwalk

Rolling Chairs on the Boardwalk,
Atlantic City, New Jersey,
between 1905 and 1920.
Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920

Atlantic City, New Jersey, between 1905 and 1920. Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920 On June 26, 1870, the first section of the Atlantic City Boardwalk opened along the New Jersey beach. Boardwalk Hall was dedicated on the 31st of May 1929 and commemorated both 75th anniversary of the founding of Atlantic City in 1854 as well as the 50th anniversary of the invention of. 2715 Boardwalk Apt 1202, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 is currently not for sale. Condo is a 0 bed, 1.0 bath unit. This condo was built in 1921 and last sold on for. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Settled in 1783, Atlantic City today has a year-round population of 38,000. Atlantic City is just 11.92 square miles long but boasts many historic firsts, such as being the site of the world’s first Boardwalk and salt-water taffy’s first development.

On June 26, 1870, the first section of the Atlantic City Boardwalk opened along the New Jersey beach. Dr. Jonathan Pitney and civil engineer Richard Osborne began developing the area on Absecon Island in 1850. Long before this time though, the Lenni-Lenape tribe were the first seasonal visitors to enjoy the summer splendor of the island.

Beautiful beaches, fresh sea air, luxurious hotels, fine restaurants, alluring shops, and a connecting railroad line from Camden, New Jersey drew visitors from all over the world. Atlantic City soon became a popular summer resort and winter health spa.

Alexander Boardman, a railroad conductor, conceived the idea of constructing a boardwalk as a means of keeping sand out of the railroad cars and hotels. The city used its tax revenues to build an eight-foot-wide temporary wooden walkway from the beach into town which could be dismantled during the winter.

In the Good Old Summertime,
Atlantic City, New Jersey,
© 1905.
Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920

The rolling chair, introduced in 1884, was the only vehicle allowed on the Boardwalk, which was soon extended by enormous amusement piers such as Steel Pier, visible in the background of the photograph above.1

Any consideration of the boardwalk demands at least a nod to salt water taffy, a favorite beach-side treat. Taffy is a candy made of corn syrup and white sugar: the boiled confection is pulled and folded, then rolled into a long strip from which shorter (about two inch long) strips are cut, wrapped in stick resistant paper, and sold. Along the Atlantic City Boardwalk folks have purchased the product since at least the early 1880s. In presenting its opinion on a case concerning the right to label one's product the 'original' salt water taffy, the Supreme Court long ago held that no one company might claim that right as salt water taffy, '. . . is born of the ocean and summer resorts and other ingredients that are the common property of all men everywhere.'

Early bathers wore bathing dresses of wool flannel with stockings, canvas shoes, and large straw hats. The more daring bloomer suits and stockings worn by these bathing beauties were not introduced until 1907. Censors roamed the beaches monitoring bathers' self-exposure and looking for offenders who showed more flesh than the local code allowed.

Search on Atlantic City in these collections to find more images of this summer attraction.

Bathing Beauties,
Atlantic City, New Jersey,
between 1890 and 1910.
Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920

• Search on Atlantic City in the Alexander Graham Bell Papers, 1862-1939 to find correspondence Bell wrote during a 1901 stay in Atlantic City.
• Inventing Entertainment: Early Motion Pictures and Sound Recordings from the Thomas A. Edison Companies contains two panoramic films of a moving boardwalk, or platform mobile, a novelty featured at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Search on boardwalk to find them.

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The Nostalgic Steel Pier in Atlantic City is a legacy of fun and entertainment for the entire family. It first opened its gates in June 1898, and quickly became one of the most famously known theme parks and attractions, earning its reputation over the decades for hosting an array of concerts, unusual shows, and the greatest entertainers of the times. It was called “The Showplace of the Nation!” Attractions like the Diving Horse, High Divers, Motor Cycle Cage, Diving Bell where highlights, the pier was initially constructed of wood and steel that stretched 1,600 feet into the ocean. The modern pier is of concrete and steel, spanning about a 1000 feet.Turning a pier into an amusement park was the brainstorm of Dr. Jonathan Pitney, who believed that the accessibility of the city via the Camden and Atlantic Railroad would make the planning of a huge tourist resort an attractive venture. George Hamid, who had been part of Buffalo Bill’s Circus, would later add to its appeal by bringing in many unusual acts that Steel Pier became renown for, like the Diving Horse, the Human Cannonball, Diving Bell and Skiing Dog. In addition, it boasts a rich legacy of having sponsored as many acting legends and entertainers as became popular through the 1920’s and 1960’s, such as Marilyn Monroe, Milton Berle, The Beattles, George Burns, the Three Stooges, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Mae West, Abbott and Costello, Dick Clark, Annette Funicello, Paul Anka and many more.

A fire destroyed a major portion of the Steel Pier in 1969. Along with air travel lifting people off to more exotic venues, the park declined in popularity and closed in 1976. A second fire erupting in 1982 destroyed it completely.

Then in 1993, Trump’s Taj Mahal, which had opened three years prior, rebuilt Atlantic City Steel Pier. Through a joint venture, the Catanoso brothers, with Taft Johnson and Edward Olwell, reopened the park with fourteen rides and shows. Today, with 22 rides, games, thrilling shows, a treasured nostalgic past, plus plans for future growth, Steel Pier continues to offer plenty the entire family is sure to enjoy. Currently the Pier offers the number one rate attraction in town, a Scenic Helicopter Ride over the casinos, beach and boardwalk. There is also a three stage transformation in place that will restore the landmark to it’s original success and will eventually be a year round attraction at the Shore.

Atlantic City Boardwalk Facts Images

• 2014 Atlantic City Airshow Guide – August 12, 2014
• Family Magic and Comedy Show in Atlantic City – Rated #1 for Kids and Teenagers – May 14, 2014
• Guide to Miss America Week in Atlantic City with TV Schedule – May 9, 2014