The Heyday of Atlantic CityĪtlantic City has gone through several periods of revival, but the biggest boom time occurred at the turn of the century. Despite all the construction, the city maintained a sense of luxury that attracted the rich and influential. Smaller boarding houses began to be built.

Eventually a toll road and second railroad were added to accommodate the influx of traffic. Their main purpose was to help keep sand out of hotel lobbies.Īs the century came to an end, the city continued to gain in popularity. While the boardwalk would eventually become a permanent feature and an iconic part of the city, these early versions were torn down at the end of the season. In fact, he was responsible for the construction of the United States Hotel, which boasted 600 rooms and 14 acres of ground, making it the largest hotel in the country at the time.īy 1870, the first boardwalk was installed. Jonathan Pitney, who came to be know as the “Father of Atlantic City.” By touting the town as a health resort, he was able to boost tourism. Much of the city’s PR and branding was spearheaded by Dr. Soon, nearly 500,000 visitors were heading to the city to escape New York City and enjoy the supposed health benefits of ocean water and clean air. The Belloe House was the first hotel to be built and within a year, the town had been incorporated and began receiving trains. The city sits along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by islands, making it the perfect place to build a resort town. In 1853, when Las Vegas was still a desolate stretch of desert, developers were recognizing the potential of Atlantic City. Taking a look at the past may also provide some insights into the future of the city. While gambling in the city wasn’t legalized until 1976, the city has a rich history that has helped shape the town we now know. For this post, we are turning to America’s other famous gambling hub and diving into the history of Atlantic City. In past posts, we have taken a closer look at the origins of the Las Vegas strip, how the city as evolved and its contributions to art and architecture.

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