Six months on the Daytona Beach Boardwalk

This series visually chronicles the visitors that came to the Boardwalk and those who worked there from January to July 2005. This period covers the winter economy visitors and street people, the NASCAR Speed Weeks crowd, the Bike Week crowd, the Spring Break crowd, the Black College Reunion crowd and ends with the traditional summer beach tourists.

The August 2005 taking of many Boardwalk businesses by eminent domain greatly accelerated the rate of long-term change. These businesses are being torn down to make room for a modern luxury hotel and new businesses. The history of low cost arcade and ride entertainment that began in the depression years came to an end.

This January to July cycle of visitors in 2005 was the last of the old tradition.  The photographer, Bob Michaels, is an Orlando native who has frequented the Boardwalk since his early youth in the 1940’s.