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20 Historic Photos Of People Enjoying The Beach At Coney Island

20 Historic Photos Of People Enjoying The Beach At Coney Island
An arial view of Coney Island in the 1930s.
An aerial view of Coney Island in the 1930s. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

As we head into another day with temperatures in the 90s — and even more in the forecast — we’ve got the beach on the mind. If you’re one of the many people thinking about getting a bit of relief from the heat at Coney Island this weekend, you’re certainly not alone, and, of course, you’re not the first to think of it.

Overheated New Yorkers and tourists alike have been flocking to Coney Island since development began in the mid-1800s, and while await our chance to sit on the sand this weekend, we thought we’d take a look at some of the beach-goers who came before us.

We picked our 20 favorite vintage images of the beach at Coney Island from the awesome archives of Brooklyn Visual Heritage — check them out below, and to find even more, just browse here.

1. Escaping The Crowds (1946)

View from the Parachute Jump in 1946
View from the Parachute Jump. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Back when the Parachute Jump was still a ride — it stopped running in 1964.

2. At One With The Crowds (1930s)

The crowded beach at Coney Island in the 1930s
The crowded beach in the 1930s. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

So. Much. Sweaty. Humanity.

3. The More Things Change… (1946)

a couple sits on the sand amidst trash in coney island in 1946
Some things never change. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

A couple similarities between Coney Island in 1946 and in 2015: lovers canoodling, and trash.

4. Boardwalk Rules (1968)

coney island Boardwalk rules sign in 1968
Boardwalk rules sign in 1968. (Photo by Otto Dreschmeyer via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

“Prohibited On Boardwalk: Persons in bathing suits, dogs, peddling, advertising, littering, bicycles, tricycles, roller skates, any vehicle except baby carriages and wheelchairs for invalids; no sitting on railings or steps.”

5. Parachute Jump Version 2.0 (1950s)

1950s blanket toss on coney island beach
A little 1950s blanket toss. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

That lady in the back doesn’t seem to have much confidence in this game.

6. Willing Participant (1949)

Ladies horsing around in 1949. (Photo by Al Lambert via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)
Ladies launching ladies in 1949. (Photo by Al Lambert via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Well, we hope she was in on this plan, anyway.

7. Department Of [Sand] Buildings (1946)

kids building sand castles on coney island in 1946
Sand castles: As popular in 1946 as they are in 2015. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

The original, cheeky caption: “These youngsters had no difficulties with priorities on materials for their house construction, although the finished product, of Coney Island sand, was far from substantial.”

8. Cold-Water Swimmers (1948

two women spalsh in the surf at coney island in 1948
Splish splash, 1948-style. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Not quite the Polar Bear Club, but according to the photo’s original caption, by the beach’s official opening day that year, these two ladies had been swimming daily since March.

9. Horsing Around (1953)

people on the coney island beach in 1953
The original caption says that on this date in 1953, 1.3M people visited Coney Island! (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

When did the game “Johnny-on-the-Pony” go out of style?

10. Up In Arms (1950s)

people workout on the coney island beach in the 1950s
A 1950s workout. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

People have been perfecting their beach bodies for decades.

11. Bundled Up (1899)

Swimwear in 1899! (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)
Swimwear in 1899! (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Though they weren’t always showing those beach bodies off.

12. Layered (1899-1900)

a woman not exactly dressed for beach weather at coney island
We’re sweating just looking at this woman, photographed around 1899-1900. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Nothing says “beat the heat” like a few layers of petticoats.

13. Evolving Styles (1919)

Don't see a lot of guys in suits on the beach nowadays. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)
Don’t see a lot of guys in suits on the beach nowadays. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Loving the outfits on those ladies near the beach umbrella.

14. Topless Beach (1940s)

a cop tells a man on coney island to pull up his swimsuit
Thoughts on modesty have changed a bit over the years. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

According to the original caption, soon after this photo was taken, it was no longer an arrestable offense for a man to have the top half of his bathing suit pulled down!

15. Fits Like A… (1952)

a woman wears gloves into the water at coney island in 1952
Taking a dip while accessorized in 1952. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Speaking of beach fashion…gloves, eh?

16. En ‘Guard’ (1920s)

Baywatch: 1920s Edition. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)
Baywatch: 1920s Edition. (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Lifeguards have apparently always been sun-kissed hunks.

17. Place In The Sun (1953)

Re-apply after 80 minutes! (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)
Re-apply after 80 minutes! (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

The Eagle had some saucy caption writers back in the ’50s: “Preparing to soak up the sunshine of a perfect summer Sunday, Brenda Senft, of 1424 E. 4th St., guards Maris Zahler, of 1625 W. 2d St., from soaking up too much by smearing her comely skin with suntan oil.”

18. Things You Bring To The Beach (1950s)

A dance for the sun gods (or, for the visiting newspaper photographer). (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)
A dance for the sun gods (or, for the visiting newspaper photographer). (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Women at Coney Island have always loved to show off their maracas (heh).

19. Things You Leave At Home (1950s)

a woman sits obscured by a sombrero on the coney island beach
Forget something? (Photo via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Fashions may change, but a giant hat to suggest you might be nude is always in style.

20. All Good Things (1949)

A young streaker in 1949. (Photo by Al Lambert via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)
A young streaker in 1949. (Photo by Al Lambert via Brooklyn Visual Heritage)

Always in fashion? Bare bums.