History Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey

county of edinburgh stranded on beach, february 12–14, 1900.

the 1870s era of major tourism expansion, driven developers subdivided old farms vacation home lots. captain arnold devised arnold city between central , become arnold avenue. in 1877, point pleasant land company bought old forman farm, 250 acres (1.0 km) on route 35 south, between forman , elizabeth avenues , began selling lots. in 1878, built four-story, 200-guest resort house, largest building in town. began horse-drawn trolley service attract tourists. other hotels built before turn-of-the-20th century, including largest, leighton, beacon, , zimmerman s, though many of these, including resort house, burnt down, succumbed changing tastes, or dismantled wood during world war ii. initially, visitors focused attention on manasquan river, cedar groves , farmhouses, interest in ocean led development on waterfront, beginning first beachfront pavilion on atlantic avenue in 1880. ten years later, first flimsy, portable boardwalk built, washed away within 2 years.

the original amusement area clark s landing, opened on manasquan river in 1892. in 1897, decision privately owned beaches in point pleasant beach made when, noted in council minutes of august 16, ownership of beach turned down council because of extreme cost borough maintenance. in 1915, first permanent boardwalk built between philadelphia , central avenues, , expanded along entire length of point pleasant beach, shortened present length september 1938 hurricane destroyed southern portion. evolved mere promenade strolling more active amusement area, beginning charles jenkinson s construction in 1920s of jenkinson s pavilion , swimming pool. boardwalk pavilion became center of nightlife, featuring sophisticated dancing, well-known big bands, , occasional live nationally broadcast radio. today features number of amusement rides, video arcades, , diverse cuisine, ranging traditional sausage sandwich sushi. point pleasant beach hosts annual seafood festival in september.

on february 12, 1900, steel-hulled, scottish barque, county of edinburgh blown ashore @ high tide , became stranded. event became national news when extensively reported in new york times, illustrated high quality photograph became resource famous painting antonio jacobsen. undamaged vessel re-floated on spring tide of february 14 , continued on voyage cape town new york.

in october 2012, point pleasant beach , numerous other jersey shore communities, such seaside heights , long beach island, devastated hurricane sandy. 2,800 feet (850 m) of borough s boardwalk destroyed, cost of repairs estimated $2 million.