What was the “Ladies Resort to the Ocean”?

In Ocean City’s early tourism era, women running boarding houses were central to the hospitality economy. Period nicknames and later “petticoat regime” references point to how female entrepreneurship helped build the resort.

Why does Ocean City history matter to modern visitors?

Understanding boarding-house roots, railroad tourism, and storm geography makes the Boardwalk and Inlet feel less like generic beach retail and more like a specific Mid-Atlantic place with a continuous hospitality story.

Where can I learn more Ocean City history on-site?

Start with the Life-Saving Station Museum and Inlet interpretive areas, then explore deeper timelines in local history pages and museum programming. Shoulder season visits are quieter for museum-going.

Is Ocean City’s economy still hospitality-driven?

Yes. Seasonal tourism, lodging, restaurants, fishing charters, and events still define much of the local economy—continuing the service tradition that began with boarding houses and early hotels.

Where should I start learning Ocean City history as a visitor?

Begin at the Life-Saving Station Museum and Inlet interpretive views, then read a short timeline of railroad tourism, the 1933 storm/Inlet story, and the boarding-house era that shaped early hospitality.

History

How Ocean City, Maryland Became a Tourist Destination

Name: How Ocean City Became a Tourist Destination
Uploaded: 2021-07-02
Description: How Ocean City, Maryland became a tourist destination—boarding houses, the “petticoat regime,” and early resort history.

WJZ Star Spangled Stories on women-run boarding houses and early OC tourism.

All history videos

4.8 673 views Jul 2, 2021 YouTube

Channel: WJZ Video 12 of 1090

About this Ocean City video

WJZ’s Star Spangled Stories segment on Ocean City, Maryland highlights a fact many visitors never hear: women—especially those running boarding houses—were central to the town’s early tourism economy. The “Ladies Resort to the Ocean” nickname and later “petticoat regime” references point to a resort built as much by hospitality entrepreneurship as by railroad capital.

That history still sits under today’s neon. Family-owned businesses, seasonal labor, and a service economy define modern OC as much as condo towers do. When you walk the boards, you are moving through a place that marketed ocean air as health and leisure long before social media.

Pair the short documentary vibe with a museum stop and a long boardwalk walk. If you are visiting in the shoulder season, history sites are easier without peak crowds.

Continue with history articles, Ocean City Info, and tourism videos.

More in this topic: History videos · All Ocean City videos

Ocean City video FAQ

Quick answers travelers and search tools ask about this clip and visiting Ocean City, Maryland.

What was the “Ladies Resort to the Ocean”?: In Ocean City’s early tourism era, women running boarding houses were central to the hospitality economy. Period nicknames and later “petticoat regime” references point to how female entrepreneurship helped build the resort.
Why does Ocean City history matter to modern visitors?: Understanding boarding-house roots, railroad tourism, and storm geography makes the Boardwalk and Inlet feel less like generic beach retail and more like a specific Mid-Atlantic place with a continuous hospitality story.
Where can I learn more Ocean City history on-site?: Start with the Life-Saving Station Museum and Inlet interpretive areas, then explore deeper timelines in local history pages and museum programming. Shoulder season visits are quieter for museum-going.
Is Ocean City’s economy still hospitality-driven?: Yes. Seasonal tourism, lodging, restaurants, fishing charters, and events still define much of the local economy—continuing the service tradition that began with boarding houses and early hotels.
What is “How Ocean City, Maryland Became a Tourist Destination” about?: How Ocean City, Maryland became a tourist destination—boarding houses, the “petticoat regime,” and early resort history. WJZ Star Spangled Stories on women-run boarding houses and early OC tourism.
Where should I start learning Ocean City history as a visitor?: Begin at the Life-Saving Station Museum and Inlet interpretive views, then read a short timeline of railroad tourism, the 1933 storm/Inlet story, and the boarding-house era that shaped early hospitality.