Roller Derby

Skating is a contact sport.

Print Page

If you know what a jammer, a hip check, and a can-opener are, then chances are you're part of the growing fan base for the popular contact sport of roller derby.

Texans have been roller skating since the 1880s, but the sport of roller derby didn't begin until the 20th century. Though originally founded in Chicago in the 1930s, today's fast, high-impact incarnation was founded in Austin in 2001 before spreading throughout the state. Today, Texas boasts approximately 47 leagues, and skilled skaters can be found on flat and banked tracks around the world. This exhibition examines contemporary popular culture and the role of women in contact sports through historical photographs, personal stories, and artifacts.

Immerse yourself in a roller rink environment with life-sized images of skaters and experience first-hand the fierce rivalries, the thrill of the bout, and the speed of a whip. See uniforms, skates, posters and more from modern flat track and banked track leagues, as well as some of the earliest roller derby artifacts, images, and media footage dating to the 1930s. Explore the What's Your Derby Name? interactive and share your derby name on Twitter using hashtag #BullockDerby.

Roller Derby is organized by the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Support for the Bullock Museum's exhibitions and education programs is provided by the Texas State History Museum Foundation.