In his wildest dreams, Sachem Tackapousha--chief of the Massapequa tribe--could never have imagined the transformation his land would undergo in the centuries following its sale to the Dutch. After millenia as an untamed peninsula, Tackapousha's native land--later known as Far Rockaway, New York--would become a vibrant beachside resort for millions of city dwellers. In its heyday, the Rockaways played host to elegant hotels, roaring beach soirees and world-renowned amusements parks.
Folks from all walks of life enjoyed the peninsula's pristine beaches, though society's elite certainly had the best view. The Marine Pavilion Hotel & Resort, completed in 1833, was the first in a long line of luxurious hotels, bath houses and stately homes to dot the ocean front. At its peak, The New York Times published weekly updates on the city's upper crust as they frolicked throughout the summer Rockaway season, commenting on all the necessary fashions and parties.
Today, the Rockaways' history isn't easy to detect--nearly two centuries of fires, redevelopment and erosion have left the landscape devoid of its former grandeur. Our Tackapousha pattern, with its arrow motif and graceful lines, aims to bridge the wild beaches of Tackapousha's 17th century home with the glamor of Far Rockaway's golden age.
For old postcards of Far Rockaway's grand hotels, clickhere
