The Breakers (04-28)

Historical narrative

The historic Breakers Hotel stood prominently along the Ocean City Boardwalk and was one of the resort's best-known oceanfront hotels during the mid-twentieth century. As Ocean City grew into a major regional resort, the Breakers offered comfortable lodging within easy walking distance of the beach, amusements, shops, and restaurants. In 1957, staying at the Breakers was a classic seaside experience. Guests awoke to the sound of waves and the scent of salt air drifting through open windows. Children hurried downstairs for a day on the beach while adults relaxed on porches and Boardwalk benches. Evenings brought leisurely strolls beneath neon lights, cooling ocean breezes, and the excitement of a bustling summer resort in its postwar heyday. The original Breakers continued welcoming visitors for decades before it was demolished in 2003 and replaced by a modern hotel bearing the same name.

Watercolor

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved