Bathing beauties of the Big Apple's past?

In 1986, the Daily News contributed to 4th of July weekend celebrations by hosting the Great Blimp Race. Here, the giant airships hover above the Manhattan skyline.

An aerial view of Jones Beach on July 4, 1939, shows crowds of frolicking beachgoers enjoying a day in the sand and surf.

Lou Gehrig, the man who became the Pride of the Yankees, delivers one of the most famous speeches of all time in 1939. Officially, it was Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium, but the slugging first baseman weakened by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would never play again. Yankees retired his number, 4.

Full of 4th of July spirit, a boy starts to pull off a gag on an unsuspecting man napping on a park bench in 1939. Thankfully for him, an officer is nearby to put an end to any mischief.

One retro beach babe isn't afraid to get her feet wet while enjoying a day at Jones Beach on July 4, 1939.

In or out of water, these ladies have style! Two beach babes circa 1939 spend their 4th of July weekend working on their tans at Jones Beach in New York.

A group of women flaunt their stylish swimsuits while strolling along the Rockaway Beach boardwalk on July 4, 1938, much to the delight of nearby onlookers.

The Holland Tunnel experiences a 4th of July traffic jam in 1936 as a steady stream of travelers inch their way to and from the city.

There's no place better to be during Fourth of July weekend than New York. For decades, the Daily News has documented what makes the day so special: barbecues, bikinis, beaches, baseball and, of course, the big bang of the fireworks that draw oohs and aahs at the day's end. Here, from the archive, we capture the ways New Yorkers have celebrated our nation's birth through the years ...

Fashion sure has changed through the years, but one thing has remained the same -- people love to spend the 4th of July hanging out at New York City's beautiful beaches. Here, two, er, beach babes put their guns on display while celebrating the holiday near the waves in 1988.

A fiery burst illuminates the Statue of Liberty on its 100th anniversary while New Yorkers celebrate the 4th of July in 1986. Nearly three decades later, spectators continue to be wowed by spectacular firework shows across the city every year.

It wouldn't be the 4th without America's favorite pastime! New York Yankee pitcher Dave Righetti, the lefty who did everything right, celebrates after striking out Red Sox player Wade Boggs to complete an epic no-hitter on July 4, 1983.

She's just an all-American girl! A patriotic beachgoer proudly sports her stars and stripes while celebrating the 4th of July on the beach in 1973.

A lovely lady tops off her tan while sitting at Pier 44 along the Hudson River on July 4, 1966. The city experienced record breaking temperatures that year as thermometers soared to 103 degrees.

A woman dressed for warm weather makes sure she celebrates Independence Day with a bang, posing next to an enormous firecracker on July 4, 1959.

Talk about a view! Three bathing beauties spend their July 4th weekend soaking up some summer sun on the roof atop the Hotel Sheraton in 1958.

While many choose to stay in the Big Apple for the long weekend, others can't wait to get out of the city. Here, Grand Central Terminal is seen packed to capacity with people as 4th of July travelers line up outside ticket windows in 1949.

A bikini-clad gaggle of girls join hands as they take a dip in the cool waters of Coney Island on July 4, 1947. For decades, the sandy beaches and attractions of the famous amusement park have drawn hundreds of people looking to celebrate Independence Day with a splash.

A sandy stretch of shore along Coney Island is jam-packed with people trying to escape the scorching summer heat on July 4, 1946. More than one million holiday revelers flocked to the beach that year.

Nassau County's Jones Beach sparkles with gals donning the latest swimsuit styles as America prepares to celebrate its independence on July 4, 1939.

A pretty lifeguard stands at her post where she keeps a sharp eye over revelers causing a commotion at Riverside Cascades Pool on July 4, 1938.

A new $1,500,000 municipal swimming pool in Astoria Park, Queens, presented a spectacle rivaling that of the famous Roman baths when it opened to the public on July 4, 1936. The pool, constructed with WPA funds, featured accommodations for 6,000 bathers.

Let's hope there's a parent chaperone nearby to supervise! Eager children press their noses against the glass as they excitedly look at a fireworks display in a store window on July 4, 1935.