04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Vintage photos show what Coney Island's July Fourth celebrations used to look like
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 the 1970s.
Vintage photos of the Fourth of July on Coney Island show crowded beaches and the hot-dog contest.
Coney Island has been a destination for Fourth of July celebrations for over a century, and the seaside neighborhood is still popular for New Yorkers who want to escape the city for the day.
Since the 1930s, throngs of tourists have gathered at Coney Island to lie on its beach and soak up the summer weather. Today, people still walk along the boardwalk, enjoy some rides, and eat a hot dog or two — or many more.
These vintage photos show what Coney Island's Fourth of July celebrations have looked like through the years.
Edward Krachie was the 1995 champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Source: The New York Times
