Just learned the first board game patent was for a game called 'The Mansion of Happiness' in 1843.

I read it on a plaque at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester. Kinda wild to think people have been patenting games for that long, what's the oldest game you've actually played?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia8431d ago

The Strong Museum rules, I've been there a few times. Honestly, checkers is totally fair game though, I've played that too. But the oldest one I've actually sat down with is probably Senet from ancient Egypt. My buddy got a replica board from some museum gift shop and we learned the rules off Wikipedia. Tbh it's way more random than checkers, it's all about those stick throws. Ngl it's cool knowing you're playing something people did like 5,000 years ago though.

finley9393mo ago

Wait, they had PATENTS back in 1843? That's the part that blows my mind. I guess I figured that stuff was way more modern. The oldest game I've played is probably checkers, but that feels like cheating because it's ancient.

stellafisher3mo ago

The US patent office opened in 1790. They gave patent number one for a potash process. So yeah, by 1843 it was a normal system. Checkers isn't cheating, it's just old. The real surprise is how fast they set up that legal stuff after the revolution.