Breading G. Way (American, 1860–1940). <em>Coney Island, Brooklyn</em>, ca. 1868. Gelatin silver print, image: 10 13/16 x 13 9/16 in. (27.5 x 34.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X892.13 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, X892.13_SL3.jpg)

Breading G. Way (American, 1860–1940). Coney Island, Brooklyn, ca. 1868. Gelatin silver print, image: 10 13/16 x 13 9/16 in. (27.5 x 34.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X892.13 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, X892.13_SL3.jpg)

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

What would people at this time period wear in the water? Definitely not this, right?

Swimwear was significantly more conservative in the past, and this photograph was from the mid-19th century. I'm not sure exactly what people wore into the water at this time, I'm not entirely certain that swimwear separate from regular clothing had been invented. I know as recently as the 1920's wool dresses and body suits were the norm for bathing.

Because of this, would they swim or play in the water less?

You are most likely correct. The development of more practical attire was driven by the rising popularity of beach-going in the 20th century. If you find George Bradford Brainerd's "Bathers, Steel Pier, Coney Island" in the same gallery, you'll see what people wore into the water in the 1880's

What would they do on the beach? Because according to the pictures there were tons of people!

At the dawn of Coney Island as a destination, there were entertainments on the beach. You can see a painting of puppet show for example in the first gallery of Coney Island: Visions of a American Dreamland. These entertainments developed into attractions on the Boardwalk. The Boardwalk at Coney Island (on a conceptual level) predates the kind of beachgoing you see in Ross's 1946 photograph.

Coney Island, Brooklyn

Breading G. Way

Photography

ARTIST Breading G. Way, American, 1860–1940

MEDIUM Gelatin silver print

DATES ca. 1868

DIMENSIONS image: 10 13/16 x 13 9/16 in. (27.5 x 34.4 cm) sheet: 10 7/8 x 13 13/16 in. (27.6 x 35.1 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Photography

ACCESSION NUMBER X892.13

CREDIT LINE Brooklyn Museum Collection

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Breading G. Way (American, 1860–1940). Coney Island, Brooklyn, ca. 1868. Gelatin silver print, image: 10 13/16 x 13 9/16 in. (27.5 x 34.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X892.13 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, X892.13_SL3.jpg)

IMAGE overall, X892.13_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

What would people at this time period wear in the water? Definitely not this, right?

Because of this, would they swim or play in the water less?

What would they do on the beach? Because according to the pictures there were tons of people!