In season, tens of thousands of families enjoyed the sand and surf. Off season, hundreds took the benefit of the salt air wrapped in blankets and shielded from the wind, or took brisk rides on horseback along the water's edge.

From the beginning city council recognized the need to assure the safety of visitors on the beach. In 1855 the council appointed William S. Cazier the first "constable of the surf." In those early years the constables donned bathing suits between the hours of eleven and one to be ready to respond to any emergency. With the opening of the Boardwalk in 1872, the first organized volunteer lifeguard service was formed. These brave souls had to pass the hat after each rescue. Not until 1892, did Atlantic City organize a paid beach patrol. Early in this century the Atlantic City Beach Patrol expanded to include medical services and today is one of the largest professional lifesaving organizations of its type in the world.

The first bathing suits to grace Atlantic City's beaches were of wool flannel covering much of the body and worn with canvas shoes, straw hat, stockings, and often a corset. The first bloomerstyle bathing suits appeared in 1907 and by the early 1920's, censor's armed with tape measures were enforcing city ordinance, which prohibited trunks or skirts from rising more than a few inches above the knees. By 1928 women were allowed to bathe without stockings, but not until 1940 were men allowed to swim shirtless.