Bowling is one of America’s most popular sports. People of all ages enjoy it; in fact, 67 million people in the US bowl every year! Everyone knows it has been ingrained in our culture for decades, but most people don’t know that it has actually been around for thousands of years. Yes, bowling is older than America itself, although it has undoubtedly changed drastically through the years. Let’s learn about what bowling was before it became what it is today. 

Beginnings of Bowling - 5200 BC

The sport of bowling can be traced back over 7,000 years. An emeritus professor of Egyptology at the University of London was examining the grave of an Egyptian child when he discovered implements for playing what looked to be a game very similar to bowling. This child seemed to have been buried back in 5200 BC. 

It is believed that back then, Polynesians also played a game using small, elliptical balls of stone and round, flat discs. They bowled these items 60 feet, which is about the length of a bowling lane today. This game was called Ula Maika.

Bowling with Pins - Ancient Germany

Surprisingly, the first time people bowled with pins was not for sport but as a religious ceremony. This was done first in ancient Germany around 1300. In this practice, one would try to knock down a wooden club with a stone. If they could knock it down, it was believed that they were free of sin. However, Martin Luther truly established the sport of bowling in Germany when he started the trend of bowling with nine pins. He was known as an avid bowler. 

Growth of Bowling - 19th Century

The first reference to bowling in media was in Washington Irving’s 1818 book, “Rip Van Winkle,” in which a Dutch-American is cursed to sleep for 20 years during a ghostly game of bowling. Throughout the 19th century, bowling continued to grow throughout the United States and the world. It blew up in cities with large German populations, such as Manhattan and the Bronx, along with Syracuse, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Chicago, and Milwaukee. Then, in 1875, the National Bowling Association was created by delegates from nine bowling clubs in New York and Brooklyn. 

However, New York State bowlers disagreed with all other bowlers to the West, leading to the creation of the American Bowling Congress in 1895. The Women’s International Bowling Congress followed shortly after in 1916. 

Bowling in the 20th Century

Starting off the new century right, the first national tournament for the American Bowling Congress occurred in January of 1901 in Chicago. 

As prohibition came to an end, beer companies wanted to advertise and were looking for new venues. Bowling associations were the perfect partners. The Bowling Proprietor’s Association (BPAA) teamed up with many beer brands for promotion to sponsor semi-professional teams, particularly when bowling tournaments became televised in the 1950s. 

However, bowling truly skyrocketed in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. At the time, professional bowling was on the rise. The Professional Bowling Association was created in 1958, and the Professional Women’s Bowling Association soon followed in 1960. People were competing on live television for large cash prizes, and people at home loved it. This popularity led to the PBA National Championship, which later became the PBA World Championship. This infamous bowling tournament is legendary not only in the world of bowling but as a household name all over. 

Knock Down Some Pins Today!

Now that you know where bowling gets its roots, you can enjoy the game even more. Get the most out of your bowling experience by heading down to your local Main Event! We have professional-level bowling lanes where you can practice your skills like bowlers have been doing for centuries. Bring your whole family and block out a full day of fun by partaking in all of Main Event’s available activities, from laser tag to gravity ropes to arcade games. There’s no shortage of things to do when you spend your time at Main Event, so either book a party or just head over. You’re sure to have a good time!