Today in history started on a warm summer day in Newport, Rhode Island. Inside the elegant Atlantic House Hotel, in what was once its dining room, the wheels of a revolution were set in motion—literally. August 11, 1866, marked the day the United States welcomed its very first public roller skating rink.

How it Rolled Out

James Plimpton, a New York businessman and mechanical tinkerer, transformed the way people moved—and played. He had already invented the modern quad roller skate a few years earlier, but on August 11, 1866, he unveiled his vision to the public.

He didn’t pick Newport by chance. The city was a bustling resort town, drawing well-heeled vacationers from New York and beyond. With its mix of leisure, curiosity, and affluence, it was the perfect testing ground.

Plimpton and his New York Roller Skating Association leased the Atlantic House Hotel, converting its dining area into a polished skating floor. What followed was more than just a novelty—it was the spark of a movement.

Why was this such a big deal?

Before Plimpton, roller skates were awkward contraptions. Some were modeled after ice skates, while others used inline wheels, making turning difficult and extremely unsafe. Plimpton’s design introduced two sets of side-by-side wheels and a pivoting axle system, which allowed users to steer by shifting their body weight. Suddenly, roller skating was easy, smooth, and fun.

Plimpton didn’t just invent a new kind of skate. He invented a new type of social experience. His Newport rink became a fashionable gathering spot, offering music, movement, and mingling—all indoors, rain or shine.

The National Craze

This wasn’t just a quirky local event. It launched a national craze:

• By the 1870s, roller rinks had begun to open in cities across the country.
• By 1884, the United States had more than 100 rinks.
• By 1935, Roller Derby was born, giving the sport a competitive edge and mass entertainment appeal.

The building that housed this first rink no longer stands. The Atlantic House Hotel, built in 1845, served briefly as a home for the U.S. Naval Academy during the Civil War. Today, its location is marked by the Elks Club at the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Pelham Street.

But its legacy? Still rolling.