By Sean Graham
This week I talk with Meghan Crnic, author of The Beach Cure: A History of Healing on Northeastern Shores. We discuss the origins of the beach as a place to get healthy, the conditions in 19th century American cities that led doctors to prescribe the beach, and the logistics of getting to the cost. We also chat about how beach areas were built up, the transformation of space from health to recreation, and the legacy of the 19th century on beach towns.
Historical Headline of the Week
Emma Loewe, “Going to the beach is good for your brain, according to science,” National Geographic, May 22, 2025.
Sean Graham is a cultural historian, an Adjunct Professor at Carleton University, and a contribution editor with Activehistory.ca
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