Beaches and Playgrounds

The good times in America spill over into many aspects of ordinary life. Beaches continue to lure urban dwellers out for a glorious day in the sun, while nearby amusements and curiosities offer a glimpse of the exotic.

Atlantic City highlights the attraction of the New Jersey shoreline, while New York's Coney Island sets the pace for fantasy-themed attractions. Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh all have similar amusement parks.

Meanwhile, summer fun arrives in land-locked areas by train, including travelling circuses and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. With Indians now safely on the reservation, spectators can thrill at Indian War re-enactments.

Popular sports like baseball, football and basketball are joined by racing events of all kinds. Meanwhile, Americans are turning to bicycles and fitness devices in record numbers. Health products are widely advertised.
Beach resorts, 1910

  Day at the Shore
Beaches are the biggest draw, offering limitless capacity and all-day fun for an entire family, at modest expense. Shoreline beach resorts stretch all the way down the eastern coast, from Maine to Florida, while southern California introduces the trend in the West. Amusement parks are another big attraction. Coney Island is the biggest, with a huge beachfront perfect for sunning and bathing. Water slides, Ferris wheels, roller coasters and roaming circus animals all add to the fun.

Atlantic City, 1910

  Mega-Beach Resort
Atlantic City keeps expanding, retaining its title as America's premier family resort. With many hotel rooms, its famous Boardwalk, and three million visitors yearly, it's custom-made for 'people watching.' It's also a magnet for photographers.


Coney Island, 1910

  Electric Fairyland
Coney Island, just outside New York, has two big attractions in addition to the beach itself. Luna Park and Dreamland each offer fantasy landscapes peppered with novel rides, elegant dining and nighttime spectacles.


Traveling circus, 1910

  Coming to Town
Midwestern families are not left out of the fun. Travelling shows crisscross the country by train, bringing circuses and more. The Buffalo Bill Wild West show delights crowds with real Indians, and the sharpshooting Annie Oakley.


Professional sports, 1910

  Packed Stadiums
Professional sports teams and permanent sporting facilities are now an established part of city life. Baseball is America's game, with two leagues battling it out for the World Series title, starting in 1903.


Health and fitness, 1910

  A New Industry
The health fad started by Kellogg's sanitarium in Battle Creek is now in full swing. Wheeled contraptions of all sorts make appearances in unlikely places, while some hospitals invest in exercise equipment similar to machines still used today. Health spas and resorts continue to attract those in search of miracle cures. Newspapers commonly run ads for health and beauty products, continuing a trend that seems likely to go on forever.