Jones Beach looms large in the hearts and lives of millions of New Yorkers. From its windswept beginnings on the far edge of an empire to its twentieth-century status as America's greatest public beachfront resort, it has been home to countless memories. In this evocative book, John Hanc explores the traditions, institutions, controversies, and characters of this beloved seaside resort, now a state historic landmark. He tells the stories of those who have shaped Jones Beach into a cultural icon—including public planning giant Robert Moses and beloved entertainer Guy Lombardo. The foreword is by "Mr. Long Island," former Newsday columnist Ed Lowe.