A collection of rare and fascinating images documents the history of Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright.
Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright are the first two municipalities below the United States Government's Sandy Hook—the northernmost stem of New Jersey's barrier beach on the Atlantic coast—and an analysis of their development provides a study in contrasts. The two share a beginning as parts of the same seventeenth-century land grant, but developed very different characters following the 1865 sale of Wardells Beach. Monmouth Beach, to the south, cultivated exclusivity. Life there centered around a membership in an association, and residents cherished the peace and privacy provided by this community. Sea Bright, on the other hand, took a public profile, inviting many visitors to come and experience the Jersey Shore in the glory of summer. The town grew up around and was known for its several hotels.