Boardwalk Golden Age
1870-1950
About This Era
The boardwalk transformed beach towns into entertainment destinations. Atlantic City invented salt water taffy, rolling chairs, and the modern amusement pier. Steel Pier became the "Showplace of the Nation" with diving horses and big band concerts.
Key Highlights
- ✓Atlantic City's boardwalk built 1870 - the first in America
- ✓Steel Pier featured diving horses from 1929-1978
- ✓Salt water taffy invented in Atlantic City
- ✓Monopoly game streets named after Atlantic City locations
- ✓Miss America Pageant began on Steel Pier in 1921
Quick Facts
- Time Period
- 1870-1950
- Key Locations
- Atlantic City, Wildwood, Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant
- Historic Sites
- 3 to explore
Historic Sites from This Era
Lucy the Elephant
Margate • National Historic Landmark
Built in 1881, Lucy is a six-story elephant-shaped building that is the oldest surviving example of zoomorphic architecture. Originally a real estate gimmick, she has survived fires, hurricanes, and demolition threats.
Visit Website →Ocean City Music Pier
Ocean City • Historic Performance Venue
Built in 1929, this iconic Art Deco venue extends over the ocean and has hosted concerts, baby parades, and community events for nearly a century.
Steel Pier
Atlantic City • Historic Amusement Pier
Once called "The Showplace of the Nation," Steel Pier featured diving horses, big band concerts, and the Miss America Pageant. Today it operates as a modern amusement pier.
Visit Website →Key Locations to Explore
These towns played important roles during the Boardwalk Golden Age period:
Explore Other Eras
Colonial & Early American
1620s-1860s
Before the resort era, the Jersey Shore was a working coastline of fishing villages, whaling towns, and maritime commerce. Sandy Hook Lighthouse, built in 1764, still stands as a testament to this era.
Victorian Era
1870s-1900s
Cape May became America's first seaside resort, attracting presidents and high society. The Victorian architecture that defines Cape May today was built during this golden age of leisure travel. Railroad access transformed sleepy fishing villages into fashionable destinations.
Maritime Heritage
1700s-Present
The Jersey Shore's treacherous shoals claimed thousands of ships. Lighthouses dot the coast, each with its own story. The U.S. Life-Saving Service, predecessor to the Coast Guard, was perfected here. Shipwrecks still emerge from the sands.
Explore Jersey Shore History
Discover walking tours, historic sites, and legendary stories.