A Brief History of Bowling
If you ask your friends and family, you probably won’t find many who have never been bowling. Everyone’s hit the lanes at least once in their lives. Bowling is one of the most popular sports in the world and has been around for a really, really long time. Just how long is that? Keep reading to find out!
Bowling BC
There’s a lot of debate about the first ever example of bowling. Afterall, it’s a pretty simple concept. You have a ball that’s used to knock down pins. However, because of bowling’s simplicity, that means it’s been around for quite some time. According to the Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame , some of the earliest evidence of bowling can be found in the tombs of the ancient Egypt!
In the 1930’s, a British archeologist discovered a grave site with what appeared to be a crude set of bowling balls and pins. These artifacts were estimated to date back all the way to 3200 BC! While other historians have debated this claim, it is by far the earliest example of bowling ever found.
Bowling Through the Ages
Moving through the course of history, there have been examples of bowling in societies and cultures around the globe. Some of the most notable include a Scottish variation that involved hurling the ball with both hands between one’s legs and flopping onto your stomach! Other forms of bowling may originated from other outdoor sports such as lawn bowling in England or bocce in Italy.
Bowling was brought to the States with British and German settlers who all had their own variations of the sport. There’s actually a reference to bowling in Washington Irving’s famous story, “Rip Van Winkle.” In fact, bowling is one of the first things Van Winkle sees upon waking up! However, bowling didn’t always have its storybook popularity. Many states saw it as a harmful vice and even outlawed the sport!
Modern Bowling
Bowling’s popularity fluctuated over the course of modern history. In 1914, standards were introduced to the sport that regulated ball composition, lane lengths and even the number of pins that were to be used. By the 1950’s, bowling was everywhere. This decade saw the introduction of automated pin resetters and ball returns. With the growing accessibility to television, many Americans tuned in to watch the sport at home, adding to its popularity.
The Future of Bowling at Zone 28
With over 30 lanes as well as private VIP spaces, Zone 28 has the future of bowling in its sights. Join us for a few frames, or check out our special events like Cosmic Bowling or Bowling After Dark. Learn more about Zone 28 entertainment options , or stop in to see us!
