Early Atlantic City [Part 7 - The Spectacular History of the New Jersey Shore]

Atlantic City would become an entertainment mecca moving into the 20th century.
In 1830, Absecon Island was considered a long stretch of worthless marshland, and barren sand dunes. Most of the houses on the island were occupied by members of the Leeds family.
Prominent physician, Dr. Jonathan Pitney, began to recognize the island for its healing and rejuvenating health benefits. He became convinced that it had the perfect climate for a health resort, and decided to bring the railroad to Absecon. In 1854, crowds gathered as they welcomed the arrival of the first train to the ocean, celebrating the birth of Atlantic City.
Large hotels and boarding houses were soon opening up all over town. Many of these grand new hotels were elegant and luxurious. Atlantic City’s first official boardwalk opened on June 26, 1870, and can legitimately be called, the first boardwalk constructed in the United States.
African Americans, arriving from the south, can be credited almost exclusively with the hard work that went into creating the resort. Bringing enormous contributions to Atlantic City’s development, they laid the tracks that brought the first railroad, built the hotels, and worked in the service industry catering to the predominantly white visitors. By 1885, more than 1,200 African Americans were making Atlantic City their home.
On Wednesday, June 16th 1880, Atlantic City was formally opened, with fanfare the likes few had ever seen, a spectacular new resort was born.
Music Credits:
Blue Dot Sessions - Long and Low Cloud
Blue Dot Sessions - Homegrown
Borrtex - Meeting Emma
Borrtex - She’s a Gift
Blue Dot Session - The Wooden Platform
Blue Dot Sessions - Thirteens
Blue Dot Sessions - Vittoro

[@user-xx2hj7xb6b]

1854 - The same year that another summer resort was founded, Mount Washington, then about five miles northwest of the City of Baltimore. By 1918, the year Mount Washington was absorbed into Baltimore City. By then, the place was a year round neighborhood.

[@clifforddicarlo9178]

Just love your old maps. They're so meaningful in tying the past to the present day. Thanks.

[@historyofthejerseyshore]

Thanks, Clifford! I love the old maps too. I'm a total map geek and can look at them for hours. 🧐🤓 Thanks for watching!

[@wanagi006]

My parents would take us to A.C. for a cool evening. I remember two things..... a place with an old school tin ceiling with high ceiling fans where we would get some watermelon....and Mr. Peanut's hot roasted peanuts..

[@historyofthejerseyshore]

Cool! That Mr. Peanut was on the boardwalk for a looong time haha. 😀

[@smokeyjoe3112]

I love AC! The rolling waves, walking the boards, and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Yes, it's heyday is past, and there are many who think it's a ----hole, but to walk and play where for 150 years others did as well, is moving.

[@historyofthejerseyshore]

I love it too! It is what it is.

[@user-xx2hj7xb6b]

@@historyofthejerseyshore It is what it is but not what it was in its heyday. Those of a certain age remember what it was and almost weep at what they see today. The Casinos have done nothing to revive its popularity. Besides, gambling isn't what brought people to the resort anyway. It's what still brings tourists to Ocean City, Wildwood, Cape May, Beach Haven, Avalon and other Jersey beach resorts that still thrive, albeit not in the grandiose manner that AC once did. The once Grand Dame of the Jersey Shore has seen better times.

[@historyofthejerseyshore]

Thanks VinMan. I'll look into doing a chapter on Brigantine. I had to reupload this video because the audio wasn't working at the beginning. So your comment might be missing.

[@ryanmcnally4613]

Hey I’m a big fan of the page. I was wondering if you could do a video on Manahawkin and Beach haven West.

[@historyofthejerseyshore]

Thanks Ryan and thanks for your suggestion! I wanted to do LBI first but I have your request noted for doing one on Manahawkin and Beach Haven West in the future. BTW if you haven't been there LBI has a great historical museum njmaritimemuseum.org/

[@davidpoo66]

Hi, new subscriber here. My grandparents used to stay with us grandchildren at the Breakers Hotel. I can't find anything about this hotel anywhere; any suggestions?

[@historyofthejerseyshore]

Hi @davidpoo66 welcome to the channel! Are you talking about The Breakers in Spring Lake. It was built in the 1800s. I stayed there in the early 2000s. It was kind of upscale but not overly expensive back then. Just google The Breakers in Spring Lake to learn more. Good luck!

[@davidpoo66]

@@historyofthejerseyshore My bad, I was talking about AC.

[@historyofthejerseyshore]

@@davidpoo66 yes there was a Breakers in AC. I remember now. It might be mentioned in one of the videos. Here's a small article about it.
hspvaragtime.weebly.com/home/the-breakers-hotel

[@davidpoo66]

@@historyofthejerseyshore Thanks!!

[@christinafidance340]

My husband and I just sailed down the ICW from Beach Haven to Abescon Inlet and I literally had to wave a beach towel back and forth over his head for well over an hour to keep those damn green head flies from biting us. They were INSANE!!! They would continually gather up under our fly bridge Bimini cover in HOARDS!!! And they really freakin HURT when they bite!!!

[@historyofthejerseyshore]

Sounds like a great trip but those greenheads can drive you batty. When you're on the beach and the wind blows in off the ocean they are practically non-existent. But you were sandwiched between the dunes and salt marsh. You might need a beekeepers suit next time. 😉

[@thraciangrapes]

Brigantine has the greenheads. The birds and bats eat them, but they still thrive.

[@rdmj3561]

hi do you guys know where the oxford academy was located in west atlantic city?

[@kylelopez629]

Ok