History of the Trampoline

Here’s a little breakdown from Livestrong.com on the History of the Trampoline:

Folklore

It’s a popular belief in circus folklore that the trampoline was the invention of an artiste named Du Trampolin. The story goes that in the 1800s, Du Trampolin experimented with a safety net to develop a form of accelerated propulsion, but in the absence of any documented evidence, his story remains a myth.

Development

Originally designed for tumblers and gymnasts in training, the United States Navy Flight School began using the trampoline for pilot training exercises during World War II. The apparatus offered a practical means of practicing in-flight spatial orientation, and after the war, its use was incorporated into both American and Soviet astronaut training as the space flight program developed.

History

University of Iowa students George Nissen and Larry Griswold built the first modern trampoline in 1935. Nissen was a competitive gymnast and diver and Griswold was a tumbler on the university gymnastics team. Their early experiments began after watching circus trapeze artists using a tightly stretched net as part of their act. Nissen said, “When we were kids, we went to the circus, you know, and I got the idea from the nets under the trapeze.” The first trampoline was fashioned from a stretched piece of canvas which was then fastened onto an iron frame by means of coiled springs. According to Kate Brammal of the Kingston Trampolining Academy, the name trampoline came from the Spanish word “trampolin,” which translates as diving board and was overheard by Nissen at a diving demonstration in Mexico. The Griswold-Nissen Trampoline and Tumbling Company was formed in 1942 and the Iowa-based factory began making the first commercially available trampolines.

Gratefully borrowed from Livestrong.com. Read more here.

Remember, stay safe and have fun!

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