Book excerpt: A mecca for families and beachgoers for over one hundred years, Hampton is situated along New Hampshire's short coastline. Composed of two distinct parts--town and beach--the town is a study in contrasts. The quiet, colonial village three miles inland did not see much growth until after World War II. Meanwhile, the beach area progressed rapidly from a nearly deserted stretch of ocean occupied by fishermen and a few scattered hotels to a bustling beach resort that could draw more than 100,000 tourists on a hot Fourth of July weekend. This fascinating volume contains over two hundred old photographs. Vintage images of Hampton Beach show the resort through its many changes; from its lazy beginnings, through the era of the grand hotels, electric trolley cars, and swing bands who played at the Ballroom, up to the 1950s, when the beach became a popular family resort destination.