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.

A fisherman caught a record-breaking 805lb Mako shark – and then barbecued and ate it with his friends. Joey Polk, 29, and his two cousins Earnie Polk, 43, and Kenny Peterson, 21, battled the 11ft predator for more than an hour before finally hauling it onto the beach. They normally tag and release their catches for conservation but were unable to resuscitate this one and instead made it the main course at a jumbo-sized family barbecue. (Photo by Joey Polk/Barcroft Media)

Katy Perry attends the European premiere of Katy Perry: «Part Of Me 3D» at Empire Leicester Square on July 3, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland)

NYC morning fog. Wednsday, January 15, 2014, morning dense fog creates spectacular views over the East river of lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges as New Yorkers and tourist admire the scenery. View from Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO Brooklyn. (Photo by Paul Martinka/New York Post)