A classic summertime escape Welcome back to Period Dramas, a column that alternates between rounding up historic homes on the market and answering questions we?ve always had about older structures.
During the 19th century, seaside life became quite popular?just look at the summer homes of Elberon, New Jersey, or the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island. But the 19th century also saw the invention of another iconic beachside structure: the boardwalk.
?The first boardwalk at Atlantic City started out as a temporary structure,? says David Schwartz, author of Boardwalk Playground: The Making, Unmaking, & Remaking of Atlantic City. ?Beachgoers were trekking sand into hotels, which annoyed hotel owners. Obviously, the hoteliers couldn?t prevent guests from going to the beach, so they came up with another plan.?
Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Atlantic City boardwalk in 1903.

Hotel owner Jacob Keim and railroad conductor (sand was also an issue in train cars) Alexander Boardman devised a plan to lay boards down on the sand. Vacationers were then directed to walk on the boards so that they wouldn?t bring sand indoors.
And so, in the summer of 1870, the first boardwalk at Atlantic City?and the first boardwalk in America?came to be. It quickly caught on, but remained a seasonal attraction?and fixture.
?In September they would basically pack the boardwalk up and store it until spring,? says Schwartz. ?In 1880, a new boardwalk was built. The f...