America's Oldest Board Game Teaches 19th-Century Geography

Travelers’ Tour Through the United States, published in 1822 by Frederick and Roe Lockwood, is recognized as the first American board game. This geography-focused game allows 2 to 4 players to race from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans, using a teetotum instead of dice to avoid the connotation of gambling. The game features a map of the United States at the time, including 24 states and 139 numbered cities and towns, which players must name to advance. Although it was designed as an educational tool, very few copies of the game remain today, indicating limited sales. The American Antiquarian Society discovered a copy in 1991, establishing it as the oldest known American board game, surpassing The Mansion of Happiness. In contrast, the oldest playable board game globally is The Royal Game of Ur, which dates back over 4,000 years. Both games illustrate how board games serve as reflections of their respective historical contexts, with Travelers’ Tour Through the United States providing insights into 19th-century American geography.

- Travelers’ Tour Through the United States is the first American board game, published in 1822.

- The game features a map of the U.S. with 24 states and 139 cities, promoting educational gameplay.

- Very few copies of the game exist today, suggesting limited popularity at the time of its release.

- The Royal Game of Ur is the oldest known playable board game, dating back over 4,000 years.

- Board games historically reflect the cultural and educational values of their time.