ice skates Keweenaw National Historical Park - ice skates

Like many winter recreational activities, ice skating began as a mode of transportation. It is believed that ice skating began in the northern reaches of Europe where long winters created a need for efficient transportation. In places like Finland, the large number of lakes made travel by skates over ice more profitable than walking around. The first ice skates were made from animal bones and it wasn’t until 1250 that the first iron blades were made. Skates evolved quickly and soon were manufactured with the boot and blade as one piece, like these #MuseumMonday skates. Skating quickly became a popular sport and was enjoyed recreationally. Long, cold winters in the Keweenaw made it an idea place for ice skating. The portage made an excellent location for recreational skating and even today you can find residents of the Keweenaw enjoying the natural ice the peninsula has to offer.