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Ever wonder where you can find the world's largest collection of world skates? At the National Museum of Roller Skating in Lincoln, Nebraska, where roller skating's history in sport, recreation, entertainment, and business is contained.
The first documented roller skate was invented in London in 1710. These early skates were little more than boards with wheels. The world of roller skating changed forever in 1863 when James L. Plimpton patented his "rocking skate" in the United States. This revolutionary motion enabled skaters to steer by leaning to the left or right, the same technique that is used with the high-tech marvels used to roller skate today.
The popularity of roller skating zoomed. Plimpton opened a public rink and leased his new skates to the public. The first skating organization, the New York Roller Skating Association, formed in 1863. Speed and distance races became common in cities across America.
In the 1930s modern show skating began which led to "Skating Vanities" a performance troupe similar to today's Ice Capades in 1942. The first United States Artistic Roller Skating Championships were held in 1939. Today roller skaters compete in American Dance and World Class Dance. Roller hockey organized in the early part of the century, played with a ball rather than a puck. This no-contact sport enters the Olympics as an exhibition sport in 1992.
The appeal of roller skating diminished following World War II as deteriorating roller rinks became an unattractive alternative to the many post-war recreational opportunities. In the 1960's interest revived as new skating surfaces and composite space-age wheels enabled skaters to circle rinks in noiseless, dust free environments.
The United States Amateur Confederation of Roller Skating is based in Lincoln and the state capitol's 7000-seat Pershing auditorium has hosted the roller skating national championships. In 1980 the National Museum of Roller Skating was organized to preserve, research and interpret artifacts, documents and published works relating to the heritage of roller skating. At the headquarters is a room for exhibits, an archival library and a collections storage area.
Included in the collection of historical rolling skates, the world's largest, at the National Museum of Roller Skating, is the first patented roller skate from 1819, the first "rocking skates" of James Plimpton, stilt skates, 2-wheel skates, 3-wheel skates, and a skate manufactured for a horse. Exhibits describe the complete evolution of the roller skate since the 1700s.
Showcases are devoted to the leading skate manufacturing companies. Innovators like the Chicago Skate Company who helped make roller skating a leading recreation of the first half of the 20th century. An exhibit shows how a modern skate is made, including the high tech wheels which have revived interest in roller skating. Display cases feature photographs and memorabilia from the many areas of competitive skating: speed skating, artistic skating and roller hockey.
Pictures and emblems from roller skating rinks across the country, many no longer in existence, are on display. A wonderful collection of roller rink postcards is in a giant scrapbook along with photographs of the United States Artistic Confederation of Roller Skating Hall of Fame members.
Fun exhibits pop up throughout the Museum. There are photos of animals on skates as elephants and penguins take to wheels. A display celebrates sidewalk skating and skating toys. And, in case you may have lost yours, there is an exhibit of skating keys.
The National Museum of Roller Skating is open Monday through Friday and admission is free. If you can arrange your visit to include it, the museum curator leads a tour of the collection on the first Friday of every month at 12:15.
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