Vintage photos from the Coney Island of yesteryear

(via The Week) Coney Island has long had a special place in the hearts of New Yorkers and tourists. Part of the appeal is the amusement park’s endearing kitschiness, which elicits a sense of nostalgia that keeps visitors coming back. But in the late 1800s, Coney Island wasn’t kitschy. It was a seaside resort with upscale hotels and bathhouses for wealthy people, who traveled to the shore during the sticky summer months.  The Week has a series of photos Of Coney Island’s heyday.