17 Vintage Photographs of People Camping in the 1920s

Every summer more than 42 million Americans turn to the wilderness seeking escape, however temporary, from the drudgery and stress of everyday life. They go camping. Fortunately, not all at the same time.

Camping is a long-standing American tradition! Camping became quite popular in the U.S. in the late 19th century, but of course it started much earlier. Since time immemorial people have camped by necessity as they explored new areas or traveled between established settlements. However, this was separate from the practice of camping for the pure sport of it.

The idea of camping as recreation came along in the 1800s. It was initially taken up by people who wanted to share their passion for this specific way of travel and living, and their advocacy boosted the popularity greatly. It was particularly seen as a good pastime for children, allowing them to experience adventure within the benign confines of an organized nature expedition.