With temperatures soaring and summer well underway, countless Americans will be spending their Independence Day weekend at the beach. Here we revisit some classic images from the turn-of-the-century to the 1930's of vacations by the sea, from Coney Island to Santa Monica.

Kalei Ferrin,3, holds a sign up in support of gay rights during the San Diego gay pride parade July 16, 2011 in San Diego, California. About 200 active-duty troops and veterans from every branch of the military participated for the first time in the march as the ban on the government policy on homosexuals serving in armed forces, or “Don't ask Don't Tell”, remains in flux in the justice system. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

RAF Tornados fly above the Lossiemouth air base on March 18, 2011 in Lossiemouth, Scotland. UK defence forces will help to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya after the UN voted in favour of a resolution that backed 'all necessary measures', except a foreign occupation force, to protect Libyan civilians.

With temperatures soaring and summer well underway, countless Americans will be spending their Independence Day weekend at the beach. Here we revisit some classic images from the turn-of-the-century to the 1930's of vacations by the sea, from Coney Island to Santa Monica.

An arial view of Top Pearsy's Maize Maze in the shape of Harry Potter, on July 11, 2011 in York, England. Farmer Tom Pearcy has cut two portraits of Harry Potter in his crop of maize plants. With some subtle differences the two images create the world's largest spot the difference competition. At over 50m in diameter, and cut out of over 1 million living maize plants, the York Maze is the largest “Maize Maze” in Europe and one of the largest in the world. (Photo by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images)

The artwork of Giant Horse Aboriginal rock art galleries in the Quinkan Country is seen on June 19, 2011 in Laura, Australia. The ancient aboriginal rock art in this region is some of the largest and oldest in the world, dating back over 15,000 years. Paintings, stencil art and engravings cover thelands traditionally home to the Kuku, Yalanji, Guugu Yimithirr and Kuku Thaypan people. As a UNESCO-identified top 10 rock art site in the world, international travelers visit the area to learn and understand the aboriginal culture through the artwork. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Magdalena Neuner poses in front of mammoth figures during a photocall of the German Biathlon Woman Team at the Archeopark on March 10, 2011 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. On the territory of Archeopark are mammoth sculptural compositions, made of bronze. Mammoths lived in Ugra 70-10 thousand years ago and were members of the Pleistocene, or also called 'the mammoth fauna’. The growth figures exceed the natural factor 2-3 times.

Hundreds of green bicycles are prepared as 960 of them await riders for the new year gala at the Temple of Heaven Park on December 29, 2011 in Beijing, China. Annual New Year countdown ceremony will be held at the park on December 31. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)