Vintage photos show what Coney Island's 4th of July celebrations used to look like

Erin McDowellJul 4, 2023, 19:32 IST

Vintage photos of July 4 on Coney Island show crowded beaches and the annual hot-dog contest.NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images; Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Coney Island has been a popular destination for the Fourth of July since the early 20th century.
Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held on July 4 since 1916.

Coney Island has been a destination for Fourth of July celebrations for over a century.

From firework displays, parades, and live performances to the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, Coney Island has served up Independence Day attractions since the early 20th century.

Today, it's still popular for New Yorkers who want to escape the city for the day, walk along the boardwalk, enjoy some rides, and eat a hot dog or two — or many more.

Here are vintage photos that show what Coney Island Fourth of July celebrations have looked like through the years.

In a black-and-white aerial photo from 1920, you can see thousands of people gathered on the boardwalk and Coney Island Beach during the Fourth of July.

An aerial view of the crowds on Coney Island Beach during the Fourth of July.George Rinhart/Corbis/Getty Images

A photo taken on July 4, 1938, shows crowds of people gathered together on the beach. There are so many people, you can hardly see the sand.

People crowding the beach at Coney Island on July 4, 1938.Getty Images

Thirty years later, revelers still visited Coney Island Beach to celebrate Independence Day. In this photo, a pair of unidentified men in shorts pose for the camera.

A pair of unidentified men in shorts pose for the camera on the crowded Coney Island Beach on July 4, 1968.Bev Grant/Getty Images

The beaches were also popular in the mid-1990s. In a photo dated 1995, children can be seen running and playing in the water while parents look on.

Fourth of July crowd at Coney Island in 1995.Susan Watts/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images

In this circa-1968 photograph, a couple eats hot dogs in front of Nathan's Famous fast-food restaurant in Coney Island.

A couple eats hot dogs in front of Nathan's Famous fast-food restaurant at Coney Island on July 4, 1968.Bev Grant/Getty Images

The first annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest was held on July 4, 1916. In this 1987 photograph, contestants can be seen partaking in the contest.

Contestants eat hot dogs during the 1987 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.Walter Leporati/Getty Images

The first-ever winner of the contest was an Irish immigrant who ate 13 hot dogs and buns. In this photo from 1961, an unidentified man eats a Nathan's Famous hot dog outside the iconic restaurant.

A man eats hotdogs at Nathan's Famous in Coney Island on July 4, 1961Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

The first-ever winner of the contest was an Irish immigrant who ate 13 hot dogs and buns. In this photo from 1961, an unidentified man eats a Nathan's Famous hot dog outside the iconic restaurant.

Here, three unidentified contestants pose with plates of hot dogs prior to the 1987 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Portrait of three, unidentified contestants as they pose with plates of hot dogs prior to the 1987 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.Walter Leporati/Getty Images

The 1995 champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest was Edward Krachie. He's pictured holding up his trophy after eating 19 and a half hot dogs and beating the defending champion by just half a dog.

American competitive eater Edward Krachie holds a trophy in his hands as he celebrates his victory in the 1995 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.Walter Leporati/Getty Images

The 1995 champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest was Edward Krachie. He's pictured holding up his trophy after eating 19 and a half hot dogs and beating the defending champion by just half a dog.

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Vintage photos show what Coney Island's 4th of July celebrations used to look like

In a black-and-white aerial photo from 1920, you can see thousands of people gathered on the boardwalk and Coney Island Beach during the Fourth of July.

A photo taken on July 4, 1938, shows crowds of people gathered together on the beach. There are so many people, you can hardly see the sand.

Thirty years later, revelers still visited Coney Island Beach to celebrate Independence Day. In this photo, a pair of unidentified men in shorts pose for the camera.

The beaches were also popular in the mid-1990s. In a photo dated 1995, children can be seen running and playing in the water while parents look on.

In this circa-1968 photograph, a couple eats hot dogs in front of Nathan's Famous fast-food restaurant in Coney Island.

The first annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest was held on July 4, 1916. In this 1987 photograph, contestants can be seen partaking in the contest.

The first-ever winner of the contest was an Irish immigrant who ate 13 hot dogs and buns. In this photo from 1961, an unidentified man eats a Nathan's Famous hot dog outside the iconic restaurant.

Here, three unidentified contestants pose with plates of hot dogs prior to the 1987 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The 1995 champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest was Edward Krachie. He's pictured holding up his trophy after eating 19 and a half hot dogs and beating the defending champion by just half a dog.