The hurricane of Aug. 23, 1933 (hurricanes were not given names in that era) left a lasting reminder in Ocean City for that storm created the Inlet and brought about the sportfishing industry and opened the bayside to development. Without the Inlet, today’s charter fishing fleet, commercial harbor and bayside marinas would not exist.

The hurricane of ’33 also ended the railroad era in Ocean City and led to the creation of the Inlet parking lot as sand widened the beach behind the northern rock jetty. The parking lot — constructed in the late 1950s — has been instrumental in the success of businesses at the south end of the Boardwalk and to events such as Springfest, Sunfest and all of the popular Cruisin’ events. Photo from Bunk Mann’s collection