History & Memory

On Atlantic City's several layered histories — the Victorian resort era, the Prohibition years, the post-war decline, the 1976 casino referendum and what followed, the 2014 closures, and the continuing work of figuring out what the city has been and what it might yet become.

2 articles

History & Memory

The Philadelphia Connection: Atlantic City's Long and Specific Relationship to a City Ninety Miles to the West

Atlantic City's identity has been shaped from the beginning by its relationship to Philadelphia, ninety miles to the west. The relationship structures…

Elaine Cosgrove May 11, 2026 8 min read

History & Memory

The Margate Elephant: A Brief Architectural History of Lucy and What She Says About Roadside Attraction Architecture

Lucy the Elephant has stood on the beachfront in Margate since 1881. She is a National Historic Landmark, the oldest surviving example…

Elaine Cosgrove May 11, 2026 7 min read