History of Bowling

Bowling has been a popular sport for centuries.  It has a rich history and is believed to have been enjoyed by ancient Egyptian children and was outlawed by King Edward III.   Tournaments became popular in the United States in the late 1800s, though only men were allowed to compete for years.  The sport has been broadcast on television since the 1950s and is played by millions worldwide. 

Early Bowling

A British archeologist in the 1930s found items in an Egyptian child's grave that appeared to resemble those used for bowling.   If his assumptions were correct, the game dates back to at least 3200 BC.  There is evidence that bowling had been introduced to England by the 1300s and that it was outlawed by King Edward III because it was distracting his troops from archery practice.  There were many varieties of pin games that varied by location.   These pin games were frequently banned because gambling was often associated with them, but the games continued to evolve and spread across the world. 

Bowling in the United States

The version of ten pin bowling we know today became popular in the United States by the late 1800s.  The American Bowling Congress was born in 1895 and national competitions began.  Women were not allowed to compete until 1917 when the Women's National Bowling Association was created.   Balls were first made of hard wood, and then rubber.  Brunswick Company revolutionized the industry with the introduction of the "Mineralite" ball in 1914.  These balls were the standard until plastic balls began emerging in the 1960s.  Brunswick is still a leader in the bowling industry today.  The game continued to grow in popularity and began broadcasting on television the 1950s.  

Bowling Today

Bowling remains a popular hobby for people of all ages and ability.   Bowling alleys are hot spots for children's birthday parties, date nights and friendly competitions.  Most high schools and colleges have a bowling team.  Professional bowlers frequently coach the Special Olympics bowling teams.  The sport is played by over 95 million people in at least ninety countries all across the world.