The National Museum of Roller Skating is located inside the USA Roller Sports headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is the home of the largest collection of historical and antique inline and roller skates, dating back to 1819, in the world. The museum was conceived to save and display items from the history of roller skating and help anyone and everyone who is interested understand and enjoy the roller sports heritage, while looking toward a healthy future for roller sports. Current exhibits include athletes, inventors and artifacts from roller skating history. During a trip to the museum you can even walk through the evolution of inline and roller skates.
Museum Collections
The museum collections include patents, medals, trophies, photographs, artworks, skating films, videos, costumes, libraries, archives and inline and roller sports memorabilia. There are approximately 1,500 volumes of roller skating books and periodicals, including over 125 American and foreign titles in the museum's periodical collection. The archives also includes over 8,000 photographs; personal papers of individuals prominent in roller skating from 1800 to the present; programs and archival material for local, regional, national, and international roller skating competitions; and miscellaneous articles and images related to roller skating.
The biggest collection of antique roller skates in the world - including the James L. Plimpton family collection, patent models of early American skates, international skate designs, competitive and vaudeville costumes, rink memorabilia, inline skates models from 1819 to current gear, and many experimental and innovative skate products is also on display at the National Museum of Roller Skating.
An Overview of Past and Current Roller Sports
Mixed in with roller skating artifacts and history, visitors get to walk through a complete overview of the activities that they were used for and can watch highlights of roller skating competitions.
Exhibits of interest include:
- The first patented roller skate
- Plimpton's first "rocking skates" from the James L. Plimpton family collection
- A selection of nineteenth-century roller skate patents
- Stilt skates, 2-wheel skates, 3-wheel skates, and even skates designed for animals
- The complete evolution of the roller skate since the 1700s<
- Inline skates dating from 1819 to present
- Leading skate manufacturing companies and innovators
- Photographs and memorabilia from clubs, organizations, celebrities and rinks
- Speed skating, artistic skating and roller hockey history
- Highlights of roller skating competitions
- Roller Sports Hall of Fame
Museum Research
If you ever need roller sports historical information to help with homework or research projects or want to request specific skating images, the National Museum of Roller Skating may be able to help. If more information is required, the museum store is a great resource.
Museum Store and Gift Shop
There is a museum store in the exhibit gallery with souvenirs like tee-shirts, pens, pencils, patches, postcards and paperweights. Several museum publications are available, too:- The Evolution of the Roller Skate: 1820-Present
- The History of Roller Skating
- Awards & Honors of the Roller Skating Association International
- The Allure of the Rink: Roller Skating at the Arena Gardens, 1935-1953
- Skate Crazy
Donate to the National Museum of Roller Skating
Like most historical collections, the museum welcomes donations of artifacts, documents, and memorabilia related to roller skating. The curator hopes to get pre-1900 items that are not already part of the collection and pre-1937 competitive documents. These donations are tax-deductible up to the amount legally allowed.
The National Museum of Roller Skating may be a little off the beaten path, but Lincoln is a friendly city, the home of roller sports history and the national hub for many current USA Roller Sports activities. The museum is located at 4730 South Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506 and is open Monday through Friday with free admission.
