In Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, 'Atlantic City's Godfather' Nelson Johnson describes the inspiration of Dr. By 1874, almost 500,000 passengers a year were coming to Atlantic City by rail. That same year, construction of the Absecon Lighthouse, designed by George Meade of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, was approved, with work initiated the next year.
Built on the edge of the bay, this served as the direct link of this remote parcel of land with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city was incorporated in 1854, the same year in which the Camden and Atlantic Railroad train service began.
