Garden Hotel - 1905

Postcard by Raphael Tuck & Sons' - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The seven story Garden Hotel was built in 1897. It had 166 rooms and greenhouses on the roofs.

St. Charles Hotel - 1906

Postcard by Chilton Company - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

St. Charles Hotel - 1906. The boardwalk was put up to keep hotel patrons from tracking sand into the hotel lobbies. The St. Charles Hotel was one of the first to benefit. It had its own connection to the boardwalk. St. Charles Place holds a key position on the original Monopoly Board, right next to Jail. The Showboat Casino now occupies this piece of land where the St. Charles Hotel once stood.

Brighton Hotel, Atlantic City - 1873

Postcard by American Nov. Co. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Brighton Hotel was on Indiana Avenue, and catered to the "finest-of-clientele." The Hotel was renowned for it's famous punch, called the Brighton Punch. It was a favorite of Ulysses S. Grant.

Chelsea Hotel, Atlantic City - 1922

Postcard by I. Robbins & Son - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Chelsea Hotel opened in 1899. Many famous guests stayed there, including: Presidents William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. A new Chelsea Hotel opened in Atlantic City in July, 2008.

Hotel Traymore, Atlantic City - 1905

Postcard by Osborne Ltd. - from the collection of Thomas Topham

The Traymore Hotel, which was located at the corner of Illinois Avenue and the Boardwalk, started out as a small wooden boarding house in 1879. It grew through a series of expansions. One of the intermediate stages is shown above.

Hotel Traymore - Somewhat Later.

Postcard by E. C. Kropp Co. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Traymore kept expanding, becoming the largest and most luxurious Atlantic City hotel. It could accomodate 1500 guests, and had a ballroom that could hold 4000.
On the back of the card: On the broad expanse of clean, white sandy beach, riding the ponies is a diversion and a joy. In the background the world famous Hotel Traymore rises majestically, monarch of all it surveys.

The Traymore was demolished in 1972.

Hotel Traymore Patio.

The Patio at the Traymore Hotel - from the collection of Thomas Topham

Dennis Hotel

Postcard by E.C. Kropp Co. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Dennis started out as a two-room guesthouse in 1867. It was continually expanded and upgraded until it turned into a 550 room palace.

Dennis is still (2008) an active hotel, with 330 rooms. It is part of Bally's.

Dennis Hotel Lobby

Lumitone Photoprint - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

On the back of the postcard: Share the friendly comaraderie of luxurious ease and comfort that pervades the great Lounge, with its unmatched view of Boardwalk and Atlantic across the hotel's front lawns and Garden Terrace.

Dennis Hotel Solarium

Postcard by E.C. Kropp Co. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Solarium at the Dennis Hotel

Dennis Hotel Garden Terrace

Photograph by H.W. Hannau - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

On the back of the card: Colorful flowers, umbrellas and cabanas mark this unusual picture of The Dennis Hotel terrace with Boardwalk and Beach in foreground.

The Dennis Hotel still exists, but it now part of Bally's.

Park Place, Marborough - Blenheim Hotel

Postcard by KARDmasters - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Marlborough Hotel built in 1902, and the Blenheim built in 1906, were located at Park Place and the Boardwalk. The Blenheim was the first fireproof Hotel built in Atlantic City. It was built of reinforced concrete, and it's construction was supervised by Thomas Edison, who owned the concrete company. The Marlborough-Blenheim hotels were demolished in 1979 to make room for casinos. Bally's now occupies the land there.

Chalfonte and Haddon Hall Hotels - 1915

Postcard by Chilton Company - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Chalfont and Haddon Halls Hotels were Quaker owned, and did not allow alcoholic beverages. These properties were bought by Resorts International and turned into the Resorts Casino Hotel.

Shelburn Hotel - 1900

Postcard by P. Sander - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Shelburn Hotel was located at Michigan Avenue and the Boardwalk. Entertainers and celebrities often stayed at the Shelburn. Some of the more famous ones were Al Jolson, John Philip Sousa, Lillian Russell and Diamnond Jim Brady.

Breakers Hotel - 1916

Postcard by P. Sander - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Breakers Hotel overlooked the boardwalk and the beach. The Breakers Hotel had 450 rooms. It catered to mainly Jewish clientele, and was known as the "aristocrat of Kosher hotels."

Elephant Hotel

Postcard by E.C. Kropp - from the collection of Thomas Topham.

The Elephant Hotel was erected in 1885. It contained 10 rooms. The Elephant still exists. The Elephant is no longer a hotel, she was named Lucy and converted to a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can wander around inside her. Lucy is located at Margate, just next door to Atlantic City. See Lucy below.

Lucy The Elephant

Postcard Jack Freeman - from the collection of Thomas Topham.