Manhattan Beach in New York City flourished as a popular summer resort from the 1840s onward, offering not only a seaside beach but also attractions such as circuses and theaters. By the 1890s, it had become one of the city's premier vacation destinations.

Sousa later remarked that this march was "based on one of my early compositions." The music vividly depicts the lively crowds of holidaymakers as they approach Manhattan Beach from afar, pass by, and gradually disappear into the distance.