Figure 1.--Most of our German beach photograohy comes from the 20th century,. This is a rare 19th century portrait, taken in a studio. It is a staged family image, complete with der Strandkorb: Germany's iconic beach chair. Notice the berets thn the mzn abnd two of the boys are wearing. The studio was located in the North Sea beach resort of Langeoog. This is one of the seven inhabited East Frisian Islands at the edge of the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea in the southern North Sea, located between Baltrum Island (west), and Spiekeroog (east). Langeoog means Long Island in the Low German dialect. Frisia is one of the areas from which the Anglo Saxons migrated to England during the early medieval era. Much of Frisia is tiday oart of the Netherlands. The names of the individuals is written on the back. The studio was Otto Graef.

The ability of people to enjoy beaches is a very modern phenomenon. This is especially true of Germany because of its geography. Germany does gave a coast, buth a North Sea and a Baltic coast. But it is very short coastline, located along the northrn part of the country. And acceopt for Hamburg, Germany's cities are far from those baches, especially the Baltic Sea beaches. As a result, until the coming of the railroads, there was no way for any number of people to get to the beaches, at least sea beaches. Germany had many beautiful lakes. While there lake beaches, it wa not the same as sea beaches. This is why gthe first people to enjoy beaches and sea bathing were the well-to-do. They could afford the expense of travel in pre-railroad times. As well as the expense in staying in expnsive resort hotels. One of the first beaches resorted by ordinary people was Coney Island in America--and this was bcause it was a part of New York City. We do not know if there was a popular beach that was part of Hamburg. But as a result of Germany's very extensive and efficient rail system, Germans from the most remote areas could enjoy a moestly priced seaside vacation. This would mean the middle class. Day tripping for the working-class as developed in Britain was much less common in Germany. The photographic record of this mostly comes from the 20th century, but we have found a few images frim the late-19th century.

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Created: 2:56 AM 9/5/2023
Last updated: 2:56 AM 9/5/2023