#TBT: You Won’t Believe What The Pier Looked Like In 1890 [VIDEO]
So much has changed at the pier since the late 1800's that it's almost unrecognizable. The pier opened to the public in 1898 and offered entertainment such as concerts from some of the best entertainers in the world like Frank Sanatra, Louis Armstrong, and more. There was a ballroom large enough to hold 5,000 dancing people. The pier even had a casino located at the very end.
In November of 1898, the pier and casino were partially damaged by a storm. The casino was rebuilt and moved a year later.
In 1907, fire destroyed the entrance. The pier was again rebuilt the following year. Then in March of 1909, a huge storm destroyed part of the pier. After that one, the pier was shortened by 1,000 feet to the length it is today.