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Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Atlantic City
Atlantic City is a coastal city identified by its initials AC in some cases. The beach resort city is in Atlantic County, New Jersey in the United States.
The city is known for its fun activities like beaches, boardwalks, and casinos. The city was started on 1 May 1854. Atlantic City is also nicknamed the East, Las Vegas. Because of the unending entertainment that goes on in the Atlantic City. Check out these top 10 striking truths about Atlantic City.
1. Atlantic City only ventured into the Casino arena in 1978
The coastal resort city, Atlantic City is known for its casino life. This creates the notion that gambling and casino have forever existed in Atlantic City.
Atlantic City opened its casino doors in 1978. This followed the legalization of casino gambling by New Jersey voters in 1976.
The casinos in the city have made it easy for casino gambling lovers to enjoy their leisure. It is possible to place bets from the comfort of the casino resort’s room.
2. In The seaside resort City, Atlantic tourists outnumber the population by far
Atlantic City has experienced significant growth since its incorporation. It is a leading tourist destination in the United States.
Atlantic City has become one of America’s leading tourist destinations, with 37 million people spending upwards of four billion dollars at its attractions.
3. Atlantic City houses the biggest musical instrument in the world at Boardwalk Hall
The pipe organ is nicknamed The Sonic Mount Rushmore. The organ construction was done by the Midmer-Losh Organ Company. The pipe organ has over 33000 pipes and many staircases.
According to the Guinness World Records, the organ leads in four entries. It is listed as the largest ever constructed pipe organ. The boardwalk hall pipe organ is entered as the loudest ever constructed musical instrument among other records.
The Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall organ sound surpasses what a dozen orchestras would do. The privileged to see and hear the organ is possible from May to September.
The organ is played at noon for half an hour tour or concert. It is also played in some shows as part of the entertainment activities.
4. Atlantic City pioneered Boardwalks
Boardwalk tram, Atlantic City, New Jersey Photo by John Margolies-Wikimedia
The Boardwalk in the city started operating on 26 June 1870. Atlantic City was incorporated in 1854 from Galloway Township and Egg Harbor Township parts.
The City lies on Absecon Island. It is bordered from different directions by Absecon, Ventnor, and Brigantine. Also, Pleasantville, the Atlantic Ocean, and Egg Harbor Township are part of its neighbors.
Absecon Island’s growth began in 1850 steered by engineer Richard Osborne and Dr. Jonathan Pitney. This attracted summer visitors such as the tribe of Lenni-Lenape.
The Island’s expansion made it boast a beach, hotels, restaurants, shops, and a railroad. The railroad from Camden, NJ-New Jersey exposed the area to the outside world.
The accessibility of the region brought visitors from across the globe. Atlantic City was birthed out of this and grew into a well-known tourist destination.
In 1870, Alexander Boardman who was a railroad conductor invented the Boardwalk. He intended to protect the hotels and cars near the railroad. The beach sand blew on the railroad establishments.
That is how the Boardwalk came about and was named after its founder Alexander Boardman. The initial Boardwalk was only used during summer and was disintegrated in winter. Atlantic City used its tax revenues to construct the 8 feet wide Boardwalk that joined the city to the beach.
The Boardwalk by 1883 had about 100 business operations beside it. Over time it was built and rebuilt up to five times and the final adjustments were in 1896. This saw the wooden structure include steel beams and pilings.
The boardwalk never sleeps it operates 24 hours. It is a buzz of activity all around, restaurants, casinos, shops, piers, and much more. The amusements began with an 1884 rolling chair. But today there are plenty of options such as the Steel Pier.
5. Atlantic City once took pride in diving horses
The city attracted tourists with horse diving. Horse riders dove on their horses into a water pool 12 feet deep. They fell from a platform that was set up on the Steel Pier.
The event was dangerous but the crowd watched from below. There were never fatal accidents associated with the activity.
Reports only record one incident that blinded the rider after daring diving with open eyes. This blinding case was the foundation for the movie Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.
6. The Beach City, dictated bathing dresses for swimsuits
Atlantic City had the early bathers wear wool flannel bathing dresses. To complement the look, were stockings, large straw hats, and canvas shows.
It was until 1907 that bloomer suits and stockings came to be known. Some censors went around observing those that flouted the rules. Their goal was to spot bathers that exposed their flesh more than was expected.
7. Atlantic City birthed the Miss American beauty pageant
Labor day, stirred the idea of a beauty pageant. The city’s business community proposed a beauty pageant event to keep visitors longer in the city after labor day.
It started as a Beauty Contest for the neighboring cities. Contestants were young ladies that hailed from Atlantic City’s neighborhood areas.
The pageant was known as the Inter-City Beauty Contest. The first event was held in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk on 8 September 1921. The winner was 16-year-old, Margaret Gorman.
The first Inter-City Beauty Contest was a success. In September of 1922, the name of the pageant changed to Miss America.
This followed the naming of Miss Washington D.C.in September 1922. The contest saw participants from all over the country.
The event took three days. So, after Miss DC was named, Margaret Gorman was given the title Miss America. This changed the Inter-City Beauty Contest to Miss America, henceforth.
8. Atlantic City’s beachside favorite treat is the saltwater taffy
Taffy is a candy that is a result of white sugar and corn syrup. Ingredients are boiled and rolled in long strips. The strips are further cut to shorter strips about 2 inches long. They are packaged in stick-resistant paper and sold.
Saltwater Tiffy has existed since the 1880s and is sold along the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. The Candy’s name is owned by no one.
The U.S Supreme Court long ago ruled that taffy components are the common property of all men everywhere. This is because they are ocean ingredients. Not a single company is allowed to claim rights to the name saltwater taffy.
With no owner, saltwater taffy was popularised by Joseph Fralinger. He started selling the candy on a stand on the boardwalk. Fralinger hails from Atlantic City.
Joseph Fralinger became famous for selling the saltwater taffy across America. This happened between 1884 when he began and 1899. Fralinger sells the taffy on the Boardwalk and produces them in bulk.
9. The tallest lighthouse, Absecon in New Jersey is housed in Atlantic City
Absecon Lighthouse was completed in 1857 and has 228 steps. Though the lighthouse is not used, every night lighting of the facility is a must. The Fresnel lens is well kept in the building.
Scouting groups hold overnight events in the lighthouse. Inside the lighthouse is a small museum located in the house of the keeper.
10. The Boardgame, Monopoly was inspired by Atlantic City’s streets
Monopoly named the properties of the board after Atlantic City’s streets. Over time some street names have changed and others no longer exist.
Such streets are such as Illinois Avenue which was rebranded as Martin Luther King junior. St. Charles Place was replaced by Boulevard and Showboat Casino. The Marvin Gardens neighbors Margate.
Atlantic City is full of life. The entertainment and amusements in the City are numerous. Other facts that can be explored and are not on the list are Lucy the elephant. The Steel Pier is also a spectacular sight and there’s much more.
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