Join us in celebrating the 127th anniversary of Revere Beach as the First Public Beach in the nation! For almost two centuries, Revere Beach has served as a landmark that residents flock to every summer from all corners of our country.
Whether you come for the sun and sand, the famous Kelly’s Roast Beef, or the Annual Sand Sculpture Festival, Revere Beach has been a fixture for everyone looking to enjoy the New England summer months. In fact, thousands of people visit the beach during the Sand Sculpting Festival’s weekend-long event.
A Little History of Revere Beach
In its early heyday, beachgoers were able to take a train that follows our current MBTA Blue Line route and arrive at the beach for the day from Boston and the surrounding communities. Once there, the beach offered not only a way to spend the day on the sand but attractions like the Oceanview or Wonderland Ballrooms and rides and amusements like the Tickler, The Thunderbolt, Derby Racer, and the Jack Rabbit. Two of the most famous on Revere Beach were The Lightning Roller Coaster and The Cyclone. There were also amazing street vendors and grabbing a meal at the famous Kelly’s Roast Beef.
Today, Revere Beach still holds many events throughout the year including the Annual Sand Sculpture Festival, The Kite Festival in the spring, and the Art Festival and Pumpkin 5K in the Fall. From the amazing food, to the live music, to the relaxation in the sun, Revere Beach has something for everyone!
Most mark July 12, 1896 as Revere Beach’s official birthday, but the beach’s history spans long before that. Formerly known as Chelsea Beach (before gaining its official name as Revere Beach), the beach welcomed the public for decades prior to 1896, and contrary to popular belief, there was no grand opening ceremony in July of 1896. Instead, a massive heatwave brought record-high numbers of beach dwellers to the three-mile-long stretch of sand (see How Old Are You Really, Revere Beach?) Now, we use the month of July to commemorate our beautiful beach, bridging history and modernity for decades, with decades more to come.
