Vacation Bungalows

Vacation Bungalows with Front Yards of Sand Decorated with Shells, Rockaway, Queens, NY (1910) In 1910, Rockaway Beach was a beloved summer escape, lined with charming wooden bungalows just steps from the Atlantic. Families from Manhattan’s tenements arrived by train or ferry, eager for ocean breezes and days of wading in the surf. Children ran barefoot through the sand as porch chairs rocked in the wind, their laughter mingling with the cries of seagulls and crashing waves.

Without radios, the beach’s natural soundtrack filled the air, while ice vendors pushed carts to keep food cool in the summer heat. As dusk fell, kerosene lanterns cast a warm glow inside the cottages, and neighbors gathered outside to share stories. These humble retreats weren’t about luxury—they were about simple joys, sunburnt skin, and salty hair. Rockaway in 1910 felt like a world apart, yet always close enough to return.