The history of roller derby is a long and fascinating one. Since 1922, roller derby has been an athletic movement spearheaded by women. You might be surprised by these vintage images that capture roller derby throughout the years...

The History of Roller Skating

Roller skating originated in the 18th century as part of the performing arts—skates were used to simulate ice skating on stage during theater and musical performances. Early roller skates could only go in a straight line due to their primitive design.

Skating into Your Hearts

It wasn't until the mid-1800s that skating began to gain popularity beyond the stage. Skates were popularized after being used in ballet in opera of the late 1840s. Thanks to technological advancements like rubber whels and four-wheeled turning skates, roller skating became widespread between 1880 and 1910....