New Jersey

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Ah, New Jersey. The state seems to get such a bad rap for its toxic waste dumps, The Sopranos, congested freeways and gum cracking women with big hair. The state is much more than that as exhibited by South Jersey, through which Route 40 passes. In the Garden State, Route 40 begins in the carnival world of Atlantic City and traverses the wooded forests of the pinelands and through some amazing dairy country before ending up in the shadow of Wilmington's stench of refineries. Unless you've been living in a cave for the past 25 years, Jersey is also the home of The Boss - Bruce Springsteen - provider of some great road songs.

Atlantic City

Photo by Russell Lee (January, 1938), LC-USF33-011392-M4. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. Once touted as the "World's Health and Pleasure Resort," Atlantic City is birthplace of the picture postcard (1895) and the Miss America pageant. The city's street names are also featured in Monopoly. Atlantic City is the original roadside attraction, or as the W.P.A. described it back in the 1930's, the city is a "glittering monument" to "wholesale amusement." Most of the city's fame was based on kitsch, however much of the glitter and flavor has been long lost. These days, casinos are the greatest attractions in town. Despite its draw as a gambling hot spot, there is very little else to do while in this seaside resort. This is especially true for the Route 40 corridor where there are no major attractions. Nonetheless, there are a few noteworthy attractions you might want to investigate. Before venturing out to see the sights, please be aware that the crime rate remains very high for many parts of the city. It would be very wise to avoid venturing too far from the Boardwalk area. For the historic minded, Atlantic City offers a few museums. In addition to the Historic Museum mentioned above, you might want to visit the maritime museum at the Absecon Lighthouse (Rhode Island and Pacific Avenues - not a particularly safe neighborhood).

Atlantic City from Lawrence captive airship, 500 feet above Boardwalk, 1909. Photograph by George R. Lawrence. PAN US GEOG - New Jersey, no. 40. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. At one time, Atlantic City was wall-to-wall grand hotels. Today it is wall-to-wall casinos and pawn shops. It's like Las Vegas with much less class. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't include something about the Miss America Pageant. Here, the 1953 contestants pose during the week-long contest. Like so many other aspects of Atlantic City life, the pageant has seen better days. Photograph by Fred Hess & Son. LC-USZ62-127184. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. The Atlantic City Convention Hall - former home of the Miss America Pageant. 1920 postcard.

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