Wildwood Historical Society - George F. Boyer Museum

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Wildwood Historical Society - George F. Boyer Museum

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The George F. Boyer Museum is a history museum run by the Wildwood Historical Society. Membership is open to any interested person.
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Boyer Historocal Museum is managed by The Wildwood Historical Society, non-profit, tax exempt, not for profit corporation, founded in 1963 and given new life in 1990. The objective of the society is to gather, perserve, and present the history of Wildwood, to the public, in an interesting and informative manner. The museum has vintage photos, artifacts, and memorabilia, depicting the various ages of Wildwood, from its merger with Holly Beach City, to the present. One of the goals of the re-organized society is to recapture thos years, brush off the dust, and put them on display for public enlightment. We have special sections dedicated to the police and fire departments, the beach patrol, boardwalk, history-making residents and to the scholastic and athletic achievements of the city. We have microfilm of newspapers dating back to 1897, books on the military, entertainment, transportation, old hotels, houses, and of course our famous boardwalk! The price of admission is a donation. Come and see "The Wildwood Grandma and grandpa knew."

10/29/2026

Wildwood Convention-Music Auditorium — where Adventure Pier is today 🎪

This was Wildwood’s first convention hall, right on the Boardwalk.
With a seating capacity of 5,000 and no obstructions to the stage, it hosted nationally known bands every afternoon and evening all summer long. An arcade of stores lined the entrance, and during June, July, and August about 10,000 people passed through daily.

Imagine the sound echoing off those walls — this is where Wildwood’s big event scene really began.

We tell the full story in our new book Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From Blaker’s Pavilion in 1888 to the Emerald’s psychedelic shows, the Rainbow, Surf, Hurricane, and the big bands at the concert shell — this book traces how Wildwood became “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”
Releasing this November!

📖 Come meet the authors and get your copy signed!
Book Signing & Release Party
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue

Details on cost and where to grab a copy ⬇️
Volume II covering 1970–2026 coming in 2027.

Did you ever catch a show or convention here? What do you remember about the old Auditorium? Drop your stories below 👇

10/28/2026

This empty supermarket would become the Scene — Wildwood’s “yon” teen club 🕺💿

In the mid-60s, DJ legend Jerry Blavat took a shuttered A&P supermarket and turned it into The Scene — the ultimate “yon” teen club. Black lights, a booming sound system, and all the latest records made a grocery store the coolest place on the island to dance the night away.

We dive into spots like this in our new book Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From Blaker’s Pavilion in 1888 to the Emerald’s psychedelic shows, the Rainbow, Surf, Hurricane, and the big bands at the concert shell — this book traces how Wildwood became “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”
Releasing this November!

📖 Come meet the authors and get your copy signed!
Book Signing & Release Party
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue

Details on cost and where to grab a copy ⬇️
Volume II covering 1970–2026 coming in 2027.

Who remembers where The Scene was located?
And who played there or spun records on that stage? Drop your memories below 👇

10/27/2026

The Starlight Ballroom ✨

Before DJs and nightclubs, Wildwood danced under one roof — and the Starlight Ballroom was the place to do it. With its big band sound, polished floors, and couples spinning under the lights, it brought a touch of elegance to the boards. For decades it was where summer romances all happened to the same orchestra.

We dive into places like this in our new book Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From Blaker’s Pavilion in 1888 to the Emerald’s psychedelic shows, the Rainbow, Surf, Hurricane, and the big bands at the concert shell — this book traces how Wildwood became “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”
Releasing this November 24!

📖 Come meet the authors and get your copy signed!
Book Signing & Release Party
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue

Details on cost and where to grab a copy ⬇️
Volume II covering 1970–2026 coming in 2027.

Who remembers a night at the Starlight? Proms, dates, big bands... what’s your memory? 👇

10/26/2026

Chuck’s Round Up — Cedar Ave 🤠

A western-style lounge with a quiet, family atmosphere. Not every Wildwood nightspot was about flashing lights and packed dance floors — some were the places locals went to slow down, have a drink, and hear good music in a more laid-back setting.

We dive into spots like this in our new book Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From Blaker’s Pavilion in 1888 to the Emerald’s psychedelic shows, the Rainbow, Surf, Hurricane, and the big bands at the concert shell — this book traces how Wildwood became “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”
Releasing this November!

📖 Come meet the authors and get your copy signed!
Book Signing & Release Party
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue

Details on cost and where to grab a copy ⬇️
Volume II covering 1970–2026 coming in 2027.

Did you ever stop in at Chuck’s? What do you remember about Cedar Ave back then? 👇

10/21/2026

Blaker’s Pavilion, 1888 — Wildwood’s very first entertainment venue 🎶

Before the neon, before the go-go dancers, before “Las Vegas by-the-sea”... there was this.
Boardwalk planks, ocean air, and the sound of music floating out from Blaker’s Pier. The sign said it all: DANCING. This is where Wildwood nightlife began.

It’s the kind of origin story we dive into in our new book Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From Blaker’s Pavilion in 1888 to the Emerald’s psychedelic shows, the Rainbow, Surf, Hurricane, and the big bands at the concert shell — this book traces how Wildwood became “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”
Releasing this November!

📖 Come meet the authors and get your copy signed!
Book Signing & Release Party
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue

Details on cost and where to grab a copy ⬇️
Volume II covering 1970–2026 coming in 2027.

Who’s got family stories about the early boardwalk days? Drop them below 👇

10/20/2026

Joe Cavalier’s Go-Go Dancers at The Hurricane East — Swinging 60s
Photos by Joe Hammond ✨

Far out! Black lights, go-go boots, and non-stop moves — The Hurricane East was where Wildwood got groovy. This is the vibe that defined a whole era on the boards.

Do you remember the shows? The bands? The scene? 🎤

All of it lives in our new book Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From the Emerald’s psychedelic trips to the Rainbow, Surf, Hurricane, and the big bands blowing at the concert shell — it’s the full story of when Wildwood was “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”
Releasing this November!

📖 Come meet the authors and get your copy signed!
Book Signing & Release Party
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue

Details on cost and where to grab a copy are below ⬇️
Volume II covering 1970–2026 coming in 2027.

Who was dancing to this soundtrack? Drop your Hurricane memories below 👇

10/19/2026

Wildwood’s first psychedelic nightclub 🔮

The Emerald. Black lights, go-go dancers, and bands that turned the night into a scene straight out of the 60s. This was where the sound changed and Wildwood nightlife got a whole new vibe.

This photo — and stories like it — are exactly what we put into our new book Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From the Emerald’s psychedelic shows to the Rainbow, Surf, Hurricane, and the big bands at the concert shell — it’s the full story of when Wildwood was “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”

Releasing this November 24th! Get yours online on Amazon, America Through Time or the Wildwood Historical Society.

📖 Come meet the authors and get your copy signed!
Book Signing & Release Party
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue

Volume II covering 1970–2026 coming in 2027.

So... who remembers nights at the Emerald?

10/17/2026

We may be closed for the winter but our web store is not 💻

Castle Dracula merch, tram car items, Wildwood history books and genuine pieces of Wildwood Boardwalk are right here. Your purchase supports preserving Wildwood history!

Check it out — Wildwood Historical Museum Dot Com!

10/14/2026

Do you recognize this band? 🎤

Hint: They packed the Rainbow Club in the 1960s and kept the dance floor moving all summer long. Those white suits, that sparkle backdrop... Wildwood nightlife at its peak.

This photo is exactly the kind of memory we captured in our new book Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From the Rainbow to the Surf, the Hurricane to the big bands at the concert shell — this book brings back the era when Wildwood was “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”

It releases this November! Details on cost and where to grab a copy are in the comments ⬇️

📖 Come meet the authors and get your copy signed!
Book Signing & Release Party
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue

So... who’s got a guess on the band? And who saw them live at the Rainbow? 👇 Bonus if you know what establishment the Rainbow is today!

10/13/2026

Legends were made here.

The Surf Club — owned by Phil Bonelli and Ed Rossi — was the place to be in Wildwood. Live music, packed dance floors, and summer nights you never forgot. If you grew up here, you either saw a show here or knew someone who did.

Want to dive deeper into Wildwood’s legendary music scene?
NEW BOOK: Wildwood Music Memories: Entertainment & Nightlife, Volume I, 1885-1969 by Wildwood Historical Society board officers Taylor N. Henry & Rob Ascough.

From clubs like the Surf to ballrooms, nightclubs, and the concert shell, this book tells the story of when Wildwood was “Las Vegas by-the-sea.”

📖 Book Release Party & Signing
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 2–4 PM
Wildwood Historical Museum | 3907 Pacific Avenue
$26.99 — Preorder on Amazon or America Through Time. Also available after release at Hooked on Books and in our museum gift shop. (Check the Facebook comments or our Instagram bio for links to buy)

Volume II covering 1970–2026 coming in 2027.

Question for you 👇
Who’s been to the Surf Club back in the day? What band or memory do you still talk about?

Address

3907 Pacific Avenue
Wildwood, NJ
08260

Telephone

+16095230277

Website

http://www.wildwoodhistoricalmuseum.com/

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