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.