Olivia Fisher Atlantic City has long been one of the most iconic seaside destinations in the United States. Known for its vibrant entertainment, historic landmarks, and bustling tourism industry, the city has played a significant role in shaping American leisure culture. At the heart of its legacy is the Atlantic City Boardwalk, the first of its kind in the world, which set the standard for beachfront promenades. Read on to learn about Atlantic City and the first boardwalk in the world.
The Boardwalk is Born
The Atlantic City Boardwalk is widely recognized as the world’s first boardwalk, opening on June 26th, 1870. It was originally eight feet wide, one mile long, and stood approximately one foot above the sand. Atlantic City allocated $5,000 in funds from tax revenue for the project. Alexander Boardman, a railroad conductor, and hotel owner Jacob Keim decided to construct a boardwalk as a method to keep sand out of the railroad cars and hotels. Atlantic City used its tax revenue to build an eight-foot-wide temporary wooden walkway from the beach into town. It was dismantled during the winter until a permanent structure was erected in 1896. First called “Boardman’s Walk” after Alexander, it eventually was shortened to “Boardwalk” and is an official street in the city.
After the Boardwalk rose in popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Atlantic City quickly transformed into a bustling resort destination known for its lively entertainment and nightlife. Hotels, theaters, and beachfront clubs flourished, drawing visitors from New York City, Philadelphia, and other nearby communities. During Prohibition in the United States from 1919 to 1933, the city gained a reputation for openly defying alcohol restrictions, as speakeasies and nightclubs operated freely despite the national ban. Influential political figures like Enoch L. Johnson helped maintain this atmosphere, allowing the city to thrive as a place where visitors could drink, gamble, and enjoy extravagant entertainment.
Read More: A Guide to Spring + Summer Festivals at the Jersey Shore for 2026
The boardwalk has been home to a variety of notable piers. The most famous Atlantic City pier was Steel Pier, which opened in 1898, and was known as “The Showplace of the Nation”. It closed in 1978 and was mostly destroyed in a 1982 fire. It was rebuilt in the late 1980s and now operates as an amusement pier. In 1906, Captain John L. Young opened “Young’s Million Dollar Pier”. In 1912, President Theodore Roosevelt made a campaign speech there. In the 1980s, it was rebuilt as a shopping mall known as “Shops on Ocean One”. By 2006, it became “The Pier Shops at Caesars,” and in 2015, it was renamed “Playground Pier”. In 2023, it was renamed “ACX1 Studios” for the film production studio that took over the building.
Atlantic City Today
View this post on Instagram
Today, the Atlantic City Boardwalk sprawls 5.75 miles and starts at Absecon Inlet in the north and runs along the beach southwest through Atlantic City, terminating in Ventnor City. It is a popular year-round destination for dining, nightlife, gambling, and beach access. The beaches are open daily from 6:00AM to 10:00PM during the summer. Biking is permitted on the Boardwalk from 6:00 M to 12:00PM in designated areas. Visitors will find metered street parking, surface lots, valet services, and garages. There is also year-round Jitney service along Pacific Avenue and around town, and the Boardwalk Tram, which transports people up and down the Boardwalk between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
View this post on Instagram
Other Atlantic City Firsts
Aside from developing the first boardwalk in the world, Atlantic City has been referred to as the “Las Vegas of the East Coast” and even inspired the American version of the board game Monopoly, which uses various Atlantic City street names and destinations. The city is also the birthplace of the popular Jersey treat, saltwater taffy, which was first produced and marketed there. Adding to its cultural legacy, Atlantic City hosted the first Miss America pageant in 1920. In 1976, Atlantic City became one of the first major American cities to legalize casino gambling outside of Nevada. It is the first and only place within the Garden State where you can legally gamble in person.
See More: The Local Girl Gives: Meet the 10 NJ Nonprofits Selected for Our $10,000 Donation
Follow @thejerseyshoregirl_ on Instagram for the latest Jersey Shore updates, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 40+ events weekly to peruse.
