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Camping History
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The First Sleeping Bag
Various European designs were combinations of sheepskins lined with wool, a sewn-over blanket with rubber bottom, or bags made of reindeer fur. -
The First Tent
The real ancestor to today's familiar tenting shelter is designed by a U.S. Army officer. He modeled his "bell tent" after Native American teepees, using canvas instead of buffalo hides. -
The First Campsite
Gunnery Camp is founded in Washington, Connecticut, by Frederick Gunn, who owned a boys' school. Activities include hiking, fishing, and observing nature, and of course, cooking over a smoky fire. -
The First Women's Only Campsite
The YWCA establishes its first camp in Pennsylvania. Called "Sea Rest," the camp catered to women only. -
The First Air Mattress
First air mattress invented in Reading, Massachusetts. Original design is still in use today. -
Camping Light
W.C. Coleman develops a liquid fuel lantern with a small base tank that is pressurized using a hand pump. -
The First Motorhome
The first motorhome, Pierce-Arrow's Touring Landau. A back seat that folds down into a bed, a chamber pot toilet and a fold-down sink. -
Travel Trailer
The first tent trailer arrives, built by the Campbell Folding Camping Trailer company. -
Airstream
Airstream trailers first hit the road. The name "Airstream" isn't used until 1936. -
Smores
The first official recipe for s'mores appears in a Girl Scouts manual, -
Improved Sleeping Bag
The U.S. Army issues purpose-designed slumber bags. Heavy and bulky, these are eventually replaced with down-filled bags -
The First Cooler
Coleman introduces an insulated cooler with steel shell and inner plastic liner. -
Fifth-Wheel
Fifth-wheel trailers appear on the roads, offering greater towing stability. -
Improved Sleeping Pads
Closed cell foam pads debut in the U.S. These are followed by self-inflating and manual-inflating pads. -
Improved Cooler
Igloo Company introduces the first all-plastic cooler chest. -
Present Day Motorhomes
Today, motorhomes can be up to 40 feet in length and feature everything that your home has from microwaves, to showers, to ovens, to toilets. -
Present Day Campsites
Today, there are many different campsites that adventurests can chosse to stay at. Campers can stay in national parks, estabilished campgrounds, and even a Walmart parking lot.
