Archaeological discoveries

What toys did pioneers have?

Boys’ Toys

- Tops: Small, spinning wooden toys with a pointed tip that could twirl for long periods of time

- Balls: Made from wood, animal hide, or corn husks, balls were simple but enjoyed by people of all ages

- Stilts: Pioneer boys often made stilts from pieces of wood or broken fence posts

- Slingshots: Boys made their own slingshots by attaching rubber bands to forked sticks

- Blowguns: Long hollow tubes made from wood, elderberries, or sumac stems, blowguns were used to shoot small darts

- Marbles: Small, round balls made of clay, stone, or glass. Often used for games such as marbles and mumblety-peg.

- Hobbyhorses: Wooden sticks with a horse head attached to one end. Some had wheels and others had rocking bases.

- Toy guns: Wooden or metal replicas of real guns. Often made by fathers or older brothers for boys.

- Wagons: Small wooden carts pulled by children. Often used to haul things around or as toys.

Girls’ Toys

- Dolls: Pioneer girls made their own dolls from corn husks, rags, or wood

- Jump ropes: Girls made jump ropes from pieces of rope or animal hide.

- Sewing: Pioneer girls learned to sew at a young age, often starting with scraps of fabric.

- Knitting and Crocheting: They also learned to knit and crochet, making mittens, socks, and other clothing items for their families.

- Tea sets: Children used china, pewter, or wooden cups and saucers to play pretend.

Many toys were passed down from generation to generation, and were treasured possessions for children.