Revere Beach
| Revere Beach Reservation | |
| Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston | |
 Revere Beach in 2005
|
|
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Suffolk |
| City | Revere |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Coordinates | 42°25′30″N 70°58′58″W / 42.42500°N 70.98278°WCoordinates: 42°25′30″N 70°58′58″W / 42.42500°N 70.98278°W |
| Area | 84 acres (34 ha) |
| Established | 1896 |
| Management | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
  Location in Massachusetts
|
|
| Website: Revere Beach Reservation | |
|
Revere Beach Reservation
|
|
Revere Beach Blvd. in c. 1910
|
|
 
|
|
| Location | Revere, Massachusetts |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Charles Eliot; William D. Austin of Stickney & Austin |
| NRHP Reference # | 03000642, 98000871 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 2003 |
| Designated NHL | May 27, 2003 |
Revere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts, USA, located about 4 miles north of downtown Boston. Revere Beach was founded in 1895 as the first public beach in the United States. More than 250,000 bathers might relax along Revere's shores on hot summer afternoons.
In 1875, the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Railroad or "Narrow Gauge" came to Revere Beach, making it more accessible and greatly increasing its popularity as a summer recreation area. Various beach-related and recreational buildings sprang up along the beach itself, which was constrained by the nearness of the railroad to the high tide mark.
In 1896, the Beach was taken over by the Metropolitan Park Commission (which was later to become the Metropolitan District Commission). That year, the process of clearing the beach of the buildings and moving the narrow gauge tracks of the BRB&L back to the alignment now used by the MBTA Blue Line began. On July 12, Revere Beach was opened as the first public beach in the nation. Thanks to the design of landscape architect Charles Eliot, Revere Beach was "the first to be set aside and governed by a public body for the enjoyment of the common people." An estimated 45,000 people showed up on opening day.
At the foot of Beachmont Hill was the Great Ocean Pier, which extended 1,450 feet (442 m) out to Cherry Island Bar, completely roofed over to within 200 feet (61 m) of the end. It was used as a dance pavilion, a sumptuous cafe and a large skating rink, all on a grand scale, with steamer service every half-hour to Boston and Nahant. The foundation required 2,000 piles; 1,200 yards (1,097 m) of canvas covered the piazza and 500,000 shingles were used on the various roofs.
...
Wikipedia