According to a guidebook published in the 1880’s, “The society at the Pier and in the vicinity is select. Merchants, manufacturers, statesmen, men of letters and practical science, and eminent professional characters of every sort, choose this as their favorite summer retreat.” While some visitors stayed the entire summer and had their own summer homes, others stayed for shorter periods of time, often staying in hotels. Many hotels underwent numerous changes – changing ownership, being remodeled, and in many cases being moved to a different site, with the name of the hotel often changing once or twice during the processes.