As you make a tour of the casinos, be sure to stop for some saltwater taffy, Atlantic City's classic candy. On the BoardwalkĪ stroll along this iconic wooden sidewalk is a must. * 1976: After years of decline, New Jersey voters legalize gambling, leading to a glut of new casinos and hotels-the Tropicana, Trump Taj Mahal, and, later, the Borgata-and an Atlantic City resurgence. On a more wholesome front, the Miss America pageant is born. Atlantic City develops a carnivalesque atmosphere and becomes a capital of illicit thrills. * 1920s: Prohibition ushers in a boom era of speakeasies, backroom gambling, and organized crime. It will eventually become one of the most famous walkways in the country.
* 1870: A boardwalk is installed to help keep sand out of hotel lobbies. Developers can’t resist the city’s waterfront location and nearness to Manhattan. 1853: Atlantic City’s first commercial hotel, the Belloe House, opens.
