The History of Swing Sets

Swings themselves date back to the time of ancient Greece and possibly even further back than that. These early swings were typically rudimentary in nature, consisting of rope and wood. Swings also featured prominently in European paintings made during the 1700s, indicating their continued use. Later, American pioneers were known to tie ropes and wooden sticks to trees for outdoor entertainment. The public playground was first conceived in Germany and the first installation was made in Manchester, England in 1859. Soon, playgrounds featuring swing sets and other outdoor play structures were being built all around the world; the first playground in the United States was build in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in 1887. It was especially notable because for the first time, the swings were suspended from their own structures rather than tree branches. By the late 1800s, swing sets were becoming safer and more standardized in design. As child labor laws were passed, swing sets became more popular since kids had leisure time to enjoy them. During the Great Depression, the WPA (Work Progress Administration) built outdoor swing sets in many communities. After World War II, many Americans moved to the suburbs and the backyard swing set was born. Today, communal and backyard swing sets remain popular and continued innovations in design and materials have made them even more durable and safer than ever before.