Opened on June 26, 1870, the Atlantic City Boardwalk became the first boardwalk of its kind and is widely regarded as the oldest, longest, and busiest in the world. Stretching about 5 1/2 to 5 3/4 miles along the oceanfront into Ventnor City, it grew from a temporary summer walkway into the center of Atlantic City’s resort life, lined with hotels, casinos, shops, restaurants, and amusements. Its history is closely tied to celebrated piers such as Central Pier, Steel Pier, Steeplechase Pier, and Million Dollar Pier, all reshaped by rebuilding, decline, storms, and fire. Despite repeated losses, it remains the city’s defining public space and a strong link between its nineteenth-century seaside origins and modern resort identity.