Although air conditioning and modern swimsuit styles are relatively recent developments, some things about summer in America haven't changed much.Summer traditions like going to the beach and boardwalk have been mainstays in American society for well over a century. The first boardwalk in the US was built in Atlantic City, New Jersey, just five years after the Civil War ended.As the town became a popular summer attraction, the boardwalk was originally constructed "as a means of keeping sand out of the railroad cars and hotels," according to Atlantic County's government. Other spots like Coney Island, New York, would also see a boom in the 20th century.Americans have also long enjoyed the simple summer pleasures of warm-weather activities like camping trips, albeit with more rudimentary gear than today.Photos from the past century also reveal how people stayed cool before air-conditioning became widely common in American homes. Whether it was standing next to giant blocks of ice or running through open fire hydrants, families were forced to get creative in the summer heat.See 33 vintage photos of summer in the US.
Going to the beach has long been a quintessential summer activity.
A day at the beach, circa 1950.
