The Rocking Chair: An American Tradition

For many of us, some of the best childhood memories involve the rocking chair. Whether that memory involves being soothed as a child while your mother rocks you gently in a comfortable glider or sitting on the front porch in a traditional rocker watching the sun set or the rain fall, the rocking chair has been at the forefront of American traditions since its inception.

Rocking chairs have been around since the beginning of the 18th century. While no one actually knows the true origins of the first rocking chair, many believe it was first invented by Benjamin Franklin. Whether this is fact or fiction, however, has only helped the rocking chair become a symbol of Americana. The very first rocking chairs were nothing more than a standard wood chair and adding rockers to the legs. This design hhas not changed much throughout the years and allows you to gently rock with little effort.

The first popular rocking chair was introduced in the mid-1700s in the North American Colonies. Borrowing from the style of rocking chairs built near Windsor Castle, North American Cabinetmakers designed and built sturdy wicker rocking chairs began to see a surge in popularity as well. Wicker allowed for rocking chair craftsman to create highly intricate designs, reaching the peak production during the 1750s.

From the Windsor Rocker came many different styles, including the Boston, Shaker, Salem and Adirondack Rockers which have been popular for more than 200 years and are still produced in factories throughout America. Built to last, many of these original styles can still be found today and can get a fair price at auction.

Modern rocking chairs, while available in a variety of designs, still derive from the initial design and are a testament to how the American culture has influenced designers and craftsman throughout the world. Made from a wide array of materials, including wood, wicker, aluminum and recycled plastic, modern rocking chairs provide comfortable indoor and outdoor seating in a variety of colors.

Depicted throughout our history history in artwork and film, the rocking chair has become a symbol of America's history. Even the story of the creation of the American Flag has Betsy Ross rocking in a classic rocking chair as she sewed. Over the past 300 years, the rocking chair has truly become an American tradition. Not only is the rocking chair a tribute to American ingenuity, it is also a testament to how a simple idea can become a world-wide phenomenon.