Garden Pier facts for kids
The Garden Pier was a famous old pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It was found at the northern end of the city's boardwalk. The pier first opened on July 19, 1913. It was once home to a theater, a history museum, and an art center. The Garden Pier had to close for a while in 2010 because of hurricane damage. It was fixed up in 2012. Later, in 2016, a developer named Bart Blatstein bought the pier's location.
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A Look Back at the Garden Pier
The Garden Pier first opened its doors on July 19, 1913. It had a beautiful garden filled with statues. The pier was also home to the B.F. Keith's Theatre. This theater was very popular and was almost as famous as the theaters on Broadway.
Famous Shows and Stars
Many famous performers appeared at the B.F. Keith's Theatre. These included stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Sophie Tucker. Popular plays such as Tobacco Road and George White's Scandals also started here. Because so many people visited, companies like Underwood Typewriter and Hoover had offices there.
Home of Miss America
In 1921, the Garden Pier hosted a very special event. It was the first ever Miss America pageant! Back then, it was called the Atlantic City Pageant. This event was created to bring more visitors to Atlantic City after the busy summer season ended.
Changes Over Time
The pier was damaged by a big storm called the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane. It closed for a while but reopened in the 1950s. When it reopened, a new art center called the Atlantic City Art Center was added. This happened during Atlantic City's 100th birthday celebrations.
In 1985, the Atlantic City Historical Museum opened at the pier. It showed 150 years of the city's history. The pier closed again in 2010 because of more hurricane damage. It was fixed up with a lot of work in 2012.
What Happened Next?
In March 2016, a developer named Bart Blatstein bought the Garden Pier's location. By 2019, both the Atlantic City Historical Museum and the Atlantic City Art Center had moved. They are now part of the Atlantic City Experience. You can find them at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
