Atlantic City Discounts

Atlantic City New Jersey

One of the most unique cities in the country, Atlantic City, New Jersey is a combination of sleepy seaside resort and glitzy amusement park. What other location offers opulent and impressive casinos alongside peaceful beaches, wildlife-filled parks and waterways? Atlantic City, besides being a modern and attractive vacation destination for people of all interests, has a few historical claims that set this city apart.

In 1870 the city welcomed the construction of the first boardwalk in the world, a landmark that has become a symbol of the city. The boardwalk, named not after the boards that make it up but after the man who proposed the idea, Alexander Boardman, was designed to keep sand from being tracked from the beaches into the stores that were sprouting up at the time. The walk cost the city half of its entire year's tax revenue, ran eight miles and spurred the construction of even more shops and entertainment venues. In 1889, a major hurricane deluged the city, flooding most streets with six feet of water and destroying most of the walk. Today, the 60-foot wide modern incarnation of the boardwalk is the cultural main street of Atlantic City.

Another first claimed by Atlantic City is the invention of salt water taffy. Those who have made the sweet treat will know that although the recipe calls for water and a touch of salt, salt water taffy is actually a misnomer. Popular legend has it that a local Atlantic City shopkeeper by the name of David Bradley coined the term. Apparently, an unusually large tidal surge disastrously swamped Bradley's entire inventory under salt water. Either as a joke to ease his loss, or in a sudden entrepreneurial flash, Bradley shook the seawater from his taffy, christened it "salt water taffy" and put it up for sale. The name stuck, as did the popularity of the candy, which today is sold in nearly every gift shop up and down the Atlantic coast.

In 1921, Atlantic City was host to the first Miss America Pageant, which continues to this day. The September pageant, timed by city planners to extend the tourist season beyond the summer months, was one of the events that sealed Atlantic City's destiny as a center of entertainment and tourism. The event, now synonymous with the city, moved into its current Convention Center home in 1940.

Atlantic City has a colorful and interesting history, with a long list of unique and interesting stories to be uncovered. If you are interested in learning more about this intriguing area, be sure to pay a visit to one of the several great museums in town, where you'll find a wealth of historical information and displays.