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