Ocean City Boardwalk, 1928 (04-03)

Historical narrative

Ocean City began as a quiet fishing village and seaside retreat in the late 1800s, growing rapidly after the Atlantic Hotel (featured in another watercolor) opened in 1875 and rail service arrived a few years later. Around 1900, hotel owners and businesses laid sections of wooden planks on the sand so visitors could stroll comfortably, forming the first boardwalk. The boards were removed at high tide and stored away because the ocean could otherwise carry them off. Around 1910, a permanent promenade was constructed and steadily expanded during the twentieth century. Storms, especially the devastating Ash Wednesday storm of 1962, repeatedly damaged the boards, but each rebuilding made the attraction larger and stronger. Today, the 2.5-mile boardwalk blends nostalgic amusements, shops, arcades, restaurants, and beaches, welcoming millions of visitors every summer while preserving the lively family atmosphere that has always defined Ocean City's coastal identity.

Watercolor

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