During World War II, Ocean City’s nightclub scene was centered on 9th Street. Within a short block, Jackson’s Casino, the Blue Dahlia and the Beach Club provided music, dancing and a lively bar scene. Slot machines were everywhere and there was hardly a hotel, bar or restaurant that didn’t have several.Ocean City was still a small… Read more »

The “African Queen” ran aground on Gull Shoal about nine miles off the coast of Ocean City on Dec. 30, 1958. The ship, with a crew of 46 and cargo that included 21,000 tons of crude oil, was headed for the Mobil refinery in Paulsboro, N.J. when disaster struck.As the captain attempted to back the… Read more »

The hurricane of Aug. 23, 1933, was the single most important event in the history of Ocean City. This week marks the 86th anniversary of the storm.It created the Inlet, separated Assateague from Ocean City and ended the pound fishing and railroad eras forever. The creation of the Inlet made possible the commercial harbor and… Read more »

The Lankford Hotel was constructed in 1924 on the Boardwalk between 8th and 9th streets by Mary Ayres Quillin. She built it with an inheritance from her aunt, Amelia Coffin Lankford, and named it in her honor.As with most hotels of that era, the Lankford originally operated on the American Plan where meals were included… Read more »

(Editor’s Note: With thousands of people converging on the Harbour Island Marina this week for the White Marlin Open, we thought it would be opportune to look back at the site before it was home to a housing community and host to the largest billfishing tourney in the world.)The Ship Café Restaurant and Marina was… Read more »

The Inlet Parking Lot began as a small strip parking area in the early 1950s. Enlarged several times over the years, it stretches today from the Pier building to the Inlet and provides space for more than 1,200 vehicles.In addition to providing much needed parking for the south end of the Boardwalk, it also serves… Read more »

Ocean City was a much smaller town a century ago. People came by both train and cars to stay at the Boardwalk hotels and boarding houses — there were no motels in those days — and dressed up to eat in the hotel dining rooms. It would have created a scandal had anyone shown up… Read more »

Mario’s was one of Ocean City’s legendary restaurants. Opened in 1954 by Vera and Jack Maiorana on 22nd Street and Philadelphia Avenue, it served an extensive Italian menu as well as some of the best steaks in Ocean City. The carryout shop was home to delicious subs that people still talk about today.Mario’s was a favorite… Read more »

The Alaska Stand was founded by Benjamin Givarz in 1933 on the Boardwalk at Wicomico Street. Not only did Mr. Givarz overcome economic problems associated with the Great Depression but also lost a prime week of the tourist season that year to the hurricane that created Ocean City’s Inlet. The Alaska Stand survived both to… Read more »