Mid-Century Postcards Reveal the Summers of the Past

How will the future look back at the summer of 2014? What activities will seem strange? What locations will seem archaic and fascinating?

Besides New Jersey, we mean.

Thanks to the Digital Public Library of America and the Boston Public Library, we can catch a rare glimpse at what the summers of mid-century America looked like. They've uploaded an Imgur album of old-school postcards from the 1930s and '40s.

The cards offer a peek at the golden beaches, conservative swimwear and classic cars of the past. Take a look a some of the images, below, and bask in quieter, less-crowded times.