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June 8, 2024 |

Coney Island History: The Rise and Fall of Engeman's Brighton Beach Resort

This article covers the rise and fall of Brighton Beach as a leading resort between 1870 and 1920. During these years, Brighton Beach competed for supremacy of Coney Island with Manhattan Beach to its east, and West Brighton to its west. Bill Engeman and the Brighton Beach Railroad Company both placed their bets on Brighton Beach and did everything they could to attract visitors to their particular resort. Brighton Beach was home to a beautiful hotel, music hall, and a well-known horse-racing track. When first built, it appealed primarily to the middle and upper-middle classes, while its competitor West Brighton initially appealed to the working and middle classes, and Manhattan Beach to the upper class.


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