I guess people have probably always gone in the water for fun or to cool off, but when did it become about soaking in the sun and a social event?
hi! there's lots of room for more input but you may be interested in a few earlier posts
Did ancient peoples "go to the beach" as we do today? - Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Polynesia (surfing), 19th c Britain & France
When did we start going to the beach? - various
Question about beach culture in England. - 19th c Britain
Why were pier-based amusement parks so popular in the early/mid 20th century? - 19th c Britain & USA
When did "going to the beach" become a popular way to spend time? - ancient shoreline middens, Nazi Germany
When did "going to the beach" become a popular, recreational activity? - 20th c USA, a survey of artistic portrayals
thread in Why was surfing seemingly the focal point of popular youth culture in early 1960s America? - 18th c & 20th c Hawai'i (surfing)
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