Atlantic City and Resorts Hotel HIDDEN HISTORIES

Pre-Atlantic City

Long before Atlantic City was founded, the island where it would be developed, thick with woods and lined with dunes, was the summer home of the Lenni Lenape Native tribe

Jeremiah Leeds is the first European to build and occupy a yearround residence on the island, building his home in 1783. Early colonial settlers in South Jersey largely ignored the island because it could only be reached by boat

The city was incorporated in March 1854. "Atlantic City" name is selected by a civil engineer from Philadelphia, Richard Osborne, who prints it on a map of the city.

Atlantic City – The Early Days

With its close proximity to populated areas the city grew rapidly and offered lodging, dining, entertainment and amusements for all ages, tastes and incomes.

Atlantic City was originally conceived of as a health resort Visitors were encouraged to take the railroad from the congested cities to the seashore, breathe in the fresh air, and bathe in the salt water.

Overlooking the beach, the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk was introduced as a way to keep sand from being tracked into the hotels’ lobbies The walk - made of boards - opened to the public on June 26, 1870, and was eight feet wide, one mile long, and stood approximately one foot above the sand This original boardwalk was removed and stored at the end of each year.

Later versions of the boardwalk were more permanent