In the early stages of its establishment Ocean City and the surrounding area was obtained by Thomas Fenwick in 1692. Once the lighthouse (still called the Fenwick Lighthouse today) was built, his daughter Mary and her husband oversaw the property where permanent residencies began to pop up. Soon houses were being built all along the shore starting at Fenwick and working its way into Ocean City. Today, Fenwick Island, Delaware, bares the name of this man, whom I am sure, could never have imagined the resort towns that have flourished from such small beginnings. However, the true idea of a resort was not cultivated until one man saw potential in the shore’s ability to house transient guests in hotels.
    Businessman Isaac Coffin came to Ocean City in 1869 and built the first shore cottage, which he opened for business to guests from the Baltimore-Washington area, much like our hotels do today. Soon businessmen from all over Baltimore, Washington, Wilmington, and the Eastern Shore gathered for the decision to split the shore into 250 lots. These men formed a corporation to develop the land, which went on to sell 4,000 shares of stock at $25 each.
    By 1890, Rosalie Tilghman Shreve had begun Ocean City’s Petticoat Regime, whose reign lasted from 1890-1926. According to the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum website, “of the thirty-two hotels and boarding houses listed in this 1926 guide to Ocean City, all but two were owned and managed by women.” Many women hotel owners, like Shreve, Mason, and Dennis poured themselves into their hotel business as a way to escape hard issues in their own lives and channel their energies in a productive, fruitful manner. These women were pioneers in not only the business world, but also in the infancy of the wonderful resort we all enjoy today. Ocean City appropriately acquired the title of The Ladies Resort to the Ocean.
    The resort began to grow and flourish, and the storm of 1933 did not put a damper on the resourceful business owners and residents of Ocean City. The great storm cut through the shore, dividing what is now Ocean City and Assateague Island. Engineers noted how nature took its course and made the best of it- they created the inlet. Today, the inlet is one of the most famous fishing ports in the world as it provides direct access to the Atlantic Ocean.
    By 1964, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was completed, allowing for even more guests on the Western shore to enjoy the resort. By 1970, more than 10,000 condominium units had been created in Ocean City with spectacular views.
    Today, whether you choose to be a resident or a guest, Ocean City is a beautiful strip of the world, full of history dating back to the birth of our country which welcomes all to take full advantage of and enjoy the hard work of generations before us.
    Baltimore Avenue: This postcard shows what Baltimore Ave. would’ve looked like in the early 1900s. Baltimore Avenue, which is the main road that runs parallel to the boardwalk, is now the home of businesses and shops along the shore.
    Hotel Nordica: One of the hotels along “Hotel Row” along the boardwalk is pictured here. With neighbors like The Mount Pleasant Hotel and The Plimhimmon Hotel, popularity and business soared. Notice here, too, the dress of the man walking along the boards. The boardwalk originally had required a much stricter dress code than today and was an opportunity for visitors to strut in their clothes comparable to their Sunday best.
    Shoreham Hotel: Shoreham Hotel, one of the few original hotels still in business along the boardwalk, was built in the 1920s and renovated in 1990. Located on 4th Street and the Boardwalk, Shoreham Hotel contains 44 rooms above Shenanigans’ Restaurant and Bar.
    Atlantic Hotel: Pictured here, the Atlantic Hotel glows as night is falling on Ocean City. The Atlantic Hotel, built in 1875, was not only a place of accommodation for 400 guests, but also the destination for those who wanted to dance. On a night like that pictured in this postcard, many visitors would come to pay 10 cents to dance the night away.
    The Idylwild: The Idylwild Hotel is pictured here when it stood tall on First Street and the Boardwalk. Two stories of roundabout porches offered guests opportunity to scan the resort and the sparkling ocean in front of them. Notice here the space between the boardwalk and the sand. Guests found retreat from the sun during the day underneath the shade of the wooden boards above.