Did you know the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk began as an 8-foot wooden walkway built to keep sand away from the hotels, shops, restaurants, and railroads? Probably not. But what began as a way to keep sand at bay has expanded a lot, adding new attractions over time. And these New Jersey boardwalk photos are proof of how much the U.S. icon has changed over the last 150 years.
At its inception, the Atlantic City Boardwalk spanned one mile long, stood about a foot above the sand, and was taken down at the end of each summer and stored for the winter, according to the Atlantic City Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). Today, the Boardwalk stretches more than 4 miles. At its widest point, it's 60 feet and towers 12 feet above the beach, the AC Free Public Library noted. It's had to be rebuilt throughout its history, but each time, it comes back even more beautiful.
Although you may not be able to travel through time (or travel period, due to COVID-19 restrictions) these photos will help you see the boardwalk's transformation over time. And may even conjure visions of funnel cakes, games, and sweet summer time.
Sepia Times
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1890
The boardwalk first opened to the public in June 1870, just in time for the summer.
Universal History Archive
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1899
Pedestrians stroll on the Boardwalk near Hotel Rudolf, a then-iconic hotel in New Jersey.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, one of Atlantic City's most popular attractions was a diving horse, according to Only in Your State. Visitors would get on a horse and dive into a 12-foot pool, 40 feet below them.
Universal History Archive
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1915
Steel Pier opened to the public in 1898, 18 years after the Boardwalk itself. The Pier began as a theater but soon had expanded to include attractions, rides, and exhibits, which earned it the nickname the "Showplace of the Nation," according to nj.com.
New York Daily News Archive
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1923
The boardwalk hit full-blown popularity during the Roaring Twenties, the CRDA noted. There were stuntmen, numerous shows, the best big band music, parades, and of course, the first Miss America pageant, which took place in September 1921.
Bettmann
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1928
Great throngs of Easter Sunday paraders spent the holiday at this famous resort, promenading along the spacious boardwalk, and enjoying the spring weather and sweet ocean breeze.
George Enell
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1938
A billboard announces the final judging for the selection of the 1938 Miss America. The pageant has called Atlantic City home since 1920s, though it briefly moved to Las Vegas for a few years in the early 2000s but is now back in New Jersey.
H. Armstrong Roberts
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1940
The buildings that decorate the Atlantic City Boardwalk tower a crowded beach with the ocean, swimmers, and sunbathers.
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock
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1948
People strolling the Boardwalk. A senior couple rides around in a car.
Evans
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1955
A couple of sight-seers ride along the world's longest boardwalk.
PhotoQuest
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1964
African American and white Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party supporters holding signs reading 'Freedom Now' and 'MFDP supports LBJ' while marching on the Boardwalk at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
Bettmann
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1974
Members of the National Organization of Women (NOW) parade down the Boardwalk during their annual convention.
Peter Keegan
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1976
A policeman walks along the Boardwalk.
Newsday LLC
15 of 22
1987
The Resorts International Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino under construction.
Douglas Graham
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1998
The Atlantic City skyline stands in the background of the Boardwalk as casinos and restaurants line the wooden walkway.
Jeff Greenberg
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2009
The Atlantic City Boardwalk view from Park Place.
Buyenlarge
18 of 22
2011
If Park Place sounds familiar to you, that's because it is. The original Monopoly game was named after streets all throughout Atlantic City, some of which are no longer around today or have been renamed.
John Greim
19 of 22
2012
The Boardwalk was the first of its kind in America and has evolved a lot since 1870. It even has an amusement park that houses the third largest ferris wheel in the US, according to its site.
DON EMMERT
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2014
The well-known boardwalk is a popular destination that attracts 27 million people each year, Visit New Jersey reported, making it one of the places most traveled to in the country.
The Washington Post
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2018
The Boardwalk at dusk. There's a feeling of hope that something can revitalize the failing casino city.
Mark Makela
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2020
A couple walks past closed stores during the coronavirus pandemic on May 7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. All New Jersey casinos, restaurants, and bars temporarily closed to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.
