Early Hotels - From Atlantic City's Nostalgic Past
In 1918 there were approximately 1200 hotels in Atlantic City, however only about 30 with a prestigious boardwalk address. The city claimed to lead every resort in the world in the number and splendor of its hotels. Below we show you some excellent examples.
The Monopoly Board Game spaces were named after some of these same locations.
Scroll down to see all the images.
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 occupied the entire block at New Jersey avenue and 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.
The Brighton Hotel was later turned into the Sands casino. See Photo below.
Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City - 1990
Photo Credit: Wikipedia via Jack Freeman Inc.
Frank Sinatra often stayed and performed at the Sands casino.
The Sands casino was the smallest Atlantic City casino and it eventually went bankrupt.
The Sands casino was demolished in 2007. See photo to the right.
As of 2011, the land where the Brighton Hotel and Sands Casino once stood was vacant.
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. To see the new Chelsea hotel follow this link: New Chelsea Hotel.
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.
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 accommodate 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.
Hotel Traymore Patio.
The Patio at the Traymore Hotel - from the collection of Thomas Topham
The Traymore was demolished in 1972.
Dennis Hotel - 1921
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 comraderie 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. See image below.
The Dennis Hotel - 2010.
Marborough - Blenheim - Claridge - Brighton - Traymore Hotels
Postcard by Jack Freeman - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
Park Place, Marborough - Blenheim Hotels
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 Blenheim was the first hotel built with a private bath for every room. It also provided hot and cold running saltwater.
The Marlborough-Blenheim hotels were demolished in 1979 to make room for casinos. Bally's now occupies the land there.
Haddon Hall - 1905
Postcard by H.C. Leighton Co. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
The Haddon Hall, Atlantic City NJ.
Chalfonte - Haddon Hall
Postcard by Robinsons Inc. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
From the back of the card - Chalfonte - Haddon Hall's year-round all-weather, salt-waterpool, 28 by 75 feet, opens on the wide Sun Deck overlooking the Boardwalk and Ocean in Atlantic City, N.J.
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, Irving Berlin, John Philip Sousa, Lillian Russell and Diamond 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."
Claridge Hotel - 1930
Postcard by E. C. Kropp Co. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
The Claridge Hotel opened in 1930, during the great depression. General Electric provided the Fountain of Light that was in the center of Brighton Park to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the invention of the light bulb by Thomas Edison. The Marlbourough hotel was at the left, and the Brighton hotel to the right.
Marilyn Monroe stayed at the Claridge during the fifties when she was grand marshal of the annual Miss America Pageant. Other famous guests included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Princess Grace of Monaco.
The Claridge hotel still exists. It is part of Bally's. See image below.
Claridge Hotel - 2008
The Claridge hotel is still in operation. In 1981 the Del Web Corporation bought the Claridge and converted it to a casino. The Claridge was subsequently bought by Bally's in 2003, and became part of the Bally's Casino Hotel complex. Bally's 49 story casino-hotel towers over the nearby Claridge at the right..
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
Lucy The Elephant still exists and can be seen in Margate City, just south of Atlantic City.
To see more about Lucy follow this Link: Lucy The Elephant.
The Ritz Carlton Hotel
The 600 room Ritz Carlton Hotel opened in 1921 at Iowa Avenue and the Boardwalk. Nucky Johnson Leased the entire ninth floor. From there he could view the ocean as he had his breakfast. The Ritz became Nucky's headquarters from which he ruled Atlantic City.
The Ritz Carlton Hotel
Postcard by Technor Bros. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
The Ritz Calton Hotel - 1954
On the back of the card - Atlantic City boasts of more hotel rooms than have thirty entire states. Fine food, unexcelled service, and magnificent furnishings, all combine to make these hotels some of the finest in the world.
Nucky Johnson's view from the 9th floor of The Ritz Carton Hotel.
The Ritz Carlton still exists. In 1980 the Ritz Carlton association purchased the Ritz Carlton Hotel and converted it into condominiums. It is now named The Ritz Condominiums. A recent renovation program restored the building to its former grandeur. See image below.
The Ritz Condominiums - 2008.
The Berkshire Inn - 1916
Postcard by A.O. Alexander - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
The Bekshire Inn, Atlantic City - Never Closed, 1916
The Hotel Lexington - 1931
Postcard by E.C. Kropp Co. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
Hotel Lexington Atlantic City, N.J. - In the Heart of Everything. Exceptionally attractive rates.
Seaside Hotel 1873-1930
Postcard by Technor Bros. Inc. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
On the back of the card - The Seaside is ideally located at the ocean end of Pennsylvania Avenue, between the Steel Pier and the Steeplechase Pier -- just far enough away to muffle the noise of the crowd, yet close enough to see everything that goes on -- and there is the view of the ocean beyond.
Hotel Dunlop - 1915
Postcard by Atlantic D.C.C . - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
Hotel Dunlop, Atlantic City - right on the boardwalk
The New Iroquois
Postcard by Saltzburg's Merchandise Co. - from the collection of Thomas Topham.
Iroquois Hotel, at the Ocean End of South Carolina Ave., Atlantic City