While pools were mostly present in resorts, some public pools were available, like the Druid Hill Park Pool No. 2 in Baltimore, MD, Francis Pool in Washington D.C, and Pine Avenue Pool in Allegany, MD. Regardless of accessibility, there is a long and deeply-rooted history between Black bodies and swimming. Historically, Black people were targeted and drowned during the era, establishing a tense and traumatic relationship between Black people and large bodies of water. This history has directly contributed to the persistent and harmful stereotype that Black people can’t or won’t swim. Engaging in leisure activities near or in large bodies of water, as you’ll see in these photographs, is not just recreational; it can and should be considered an act of resistance and a counternarrative towards dominant perceptions of history.
The Francis Jr High School swim meet in Washington D.C., circa 1930. Photo courtesy of DigDC.
Lifeguards pose at Francis Junior High School swimming pool. Photo courtesy of DigDC.
The Pine Avenue pool featured a diving board in Allegany County, Maryland. From the Library of Congress, Evening Times Cumberland, Md., August 13, 1933.
In areas where public pools were not accessible to Black families, children found other ways to cool off with water. This image shows children playing in Logan Circle in Washington D.C. in 1927. Photo courtesy of Dig D.C.
People swimming and jumping from the diving board at Pool Number 2 in Druid Hill Park. Pool Number 2 served the recreational needs of Black residents during the time of segregation in Baltimore, Maryland. The pool served over 100,000 Black residents, despite measuring 100 x 105 feet, half the size of whites-only Pool Number 1. Photo taken by Paul Henderson, held by Maryland Center for History and Culture.
People jumping into the water at Pool Number 2 located in Druid Hill Park. Pool Number 2 served the recreational needs of Black residents during the time of segregation in Baltimore, Maryland. The pool served over 100,000 Black residents, despite measuring 100 x 105 feet, half the size of whites-only Pool Number 1. Photo taken by Paul Henderson, held by Maryland Center for History and Culture.
Druid Hill Pool No. 2 was a popular destination for Black Baltimore residents in the summer. Photo taken by Paul Henderson, held by Maryland Center for History and Culture.
Resorts
Resorts were a more exclusive and expensive leisure option primarily enjoyed by upper-class families. Highland Beach, Carr’s Beach, Sea View Beach, Bay Shore Beach, and Rosedale Beach were among some of the most popular vacation communities and resort destinations in the mid-Atlantic area. Highland Beach is one of the oldest Black vacation towns in the country, founded in 1893 by Charles Douglass, son of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Carr’s Beach, established a bit later in 1926, was a renowned tourist destination. These communities acted as prime places for Black leisure and relaxation.
The Rosedale Beach Hotel and Resort featured 32 rooms, including a dancehall, bar, and dining room served by a private chef and waitstaff. Photo courtesy of Delaware Public Archives.
SeaView beach in Norfolk, VA had many attractions, as evidenced by these newspaper advertisements. Photo courtesy of Old Dominion University Special Collections.
Sea View Beach, a resort in Norfolk,VA featured many attractions, including a Ferris wheel. Photo from Old Dominion University Special Collections.
SeaView Beach was a resort in Norfolk, VA featuring an amusement park, hotel, beach access, and other attractions. Photo courtesy of Old Dominion Special Collections.
Advertisements for Sea View Beach. Photo courtesy of Old Dominion University Special Collections.
