Life in Atlantic City During the Late 1910s and ’20s Through Fascinating Photos

In the late 1910s and 1920s, Atlantic City was alive with energy, drawing crowds from nearby cities who came seeking sun, entertainment, and escape. The Boardwalk was the city’s centerpiece — lined with candy shops, photo studios, and music pavilions — where people dressed in their finest strolled beside the sea.

Men wore straw boaters and linen suits; women embraced the latest flapper styles and dared to show more skin in modern bathing suits. Families posed for seaside portraits, children rode carousels, and couples danced to jazz on the Steel Pier. It was a moment of freedom and fun, as Americans embraced new fashions, looser social norms, and the simple joy of a summer at the shore.

Take a look at these fascinating photos to see what life was like in Atlantic City during the late 1910s and 1920s.