Boardwalk History
The Atlantic City Boardwalk was constructed in 1870 to keep sand out of the hotels & rail cars. An 8 foot wide wooden foot walk was built from the beach to the town, but this first boardwalk was taken up during the winter and was replaced with a larger structure in 1880.
On June 16, 1880, Atlantic City was formally opened and a resort was born. A trolley service began in 1893 in the city and trolleys ran until 1955. During that time the Boardwalk was steadily rebuilt and enlarged until its present day size, which is over 4 miles long and 60 feet wide in places.
In the 50s & 60s the Boardwalk had many famous people visit, such as Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Jimmy Durante, Ed Sullivan, Joe DiMaggio, Frank Sinatra and Milton Berle. Even The Beatles ate the city’s world famous subs on the Boardwalk. In the late 70s the decision to bring casino gaming was made and Resorts International first opened its doors on Memorial Day Weekend in 1978. Thousands came in for those 3 days and brought life to the fading beach resort town. Atlantic City expanded from there to become the exciting Atlantic coast resort it is today.
Atlantic City Boardwalk Piers
Steel Pier
The iconic Steel Pier is Atlantic City’s premier amusement park that extends over the Atlantic Ocean that features more than 25 extreme rides, an amusement arcade filled with fun and challenging games and delicious boardwalk food.
Central Pier
Come play the cranes, slot machines, coin pushers, skeeball and other novelty games at the Central Pier Arcade & Speedway. New Jersey’s largest state of the art redemption center filled with thousands of prizes to choose from.
Playground Pier
This pier is a 4 story luxury shopping mall that contains many upscale stores like Gucci, Apple, Louis Vuitton and Armani. The first floor level is designed to look like Atlantic City Boardwalk and the shops focus around gifts, entertainment and moderate to upscale stores. The second floor has more upscale stores and the design gives you the impression of shopping under the stars. The third floor has restaurants, bars and clubs that are all located on the north side of this level of the mall. The south side of this mall is a long glass window with Adirondack chairs placed in sand to give shoppers a place to relax and feel like they are on the beach. The fourth floor is an events venue and banquet hall.
Boardwalk Hall Theater
This theater has played host to many dazzling entertainers and sporting events throughout its 85 year history. It’s a premier entertainment spot for visitors and a unique seaside arena with plenty of exciting events.
Boardwalk Tram
Experience a scenic and historical view of the Atlantic City Boardwalk on the comfortable trams. For a modest fee, the tram can take you the whole length of the boardwalk. Along the route you will see Steel Pier, Resorts Casino, Boardwalk Empire display, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, James’ Salt Water Taffy & Candy, Arthur Brown Pavilion, Heartwalk Art, Theaters, Boardwalk Hall, Tropicana and much more.
Shopping & Dining
Everything you could possibly want is right here within walking distance, from shops to five star restaurants, budget buffets to casinos, attractions & great shows. The Atlantic City Boardwalk provides shoppers a unique experience with local finds such as salt water taffy and delicious fudge to Atlantic City themed souvenirs and gifts. You can find anything from Asian cuisine, buffets, bars/lounges, casino restaurants, casual dining, fine dining, Cuban/Mexican cuisine, Italian cuisine, Mediterranean cuisine, quick bites, seafood, boardwalk food, sports bars, steakhouse and restaurants with water views. There is something for everyone!
The Boardwalk shopping offers it all, from high end retail options, discounted brand name fashions and accessories at a factory outlet mall and everything in between. Bargain hunters and fashionistas, prepare to rack up the sales on apparel, accessories, footwear, fragrances, sunglasses, watches and much more. Atlantic City offers shoppers tax free shopping on clothing and shoes.
- Don’t forget to bring your camera. It’s a beautiful view from the Atlantic City Boardwalk looking at the ocean.
- All Casinos are ADA compliant.