Tattoo History

The Beginnings of British Tattoos Captain James Cook by Nathaniel Dance-Holland [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons While there may be no clear history of the very first tattoos making their appearance in England, a strong argument can be made for the case of Captain James Cook being the driving force behind the rise of their…

Tattoo History: The Long Beach Pike Image source: via Wikimedia Commons Known for not only its arcades and food stands, but its connection to tattoo legends, the Pike was an amusement park that first opened in 1902 in the city of Long Beach, California. The pier that held the Pike was the perfect setting to…

Tattoo History: The Bowery Image source: Bowery Boys History New York City has been the birthplace of some of biggest advancements in the world of traditional tattooing, from the start traditional tattooing revolution in the middle of the 19th century, to the temporary outlawing of the practice in 1961. And the heart of the tattoo…

Tattoo History: Flash Art Image source: via Wikipedia Walking into a tattoo shop can almost be overwhelming to the senses. The incessant buzzing of tattoo machines, the sharp smell of disinfectants, and the walls covered with bright and colorful tattoo designs can combine for a sensory overload, but there is no denying that it can…

History of a Tattooed Attraction: Olive Oatman Image source: via Wikimedia Commons During the 19th century, the popularity of tattooed attractions was on the rise, and many men and women placed themselves on display to the public. For a price, people could stare in wonder at the tattooed performers and hear their incredible tales of…

History of a Tattooed Attraction: Betty Broadbent Image source: Tattoo Archive The appeal of the tattooed attraction as a standalone act may have begun to die down in the 20th century but the rise of the sideshow and the circus kept people paying to see the tattooed men and women of the world into the…

History of a Tattooed Attraction: John Rutherford Dempsey, John Church, 1802-1877. Dempsey, John Church, 1802-1877 (attributed): [Portrait of John Rutherford, the tattooed Englishman]. Ref: A-090-028. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22540146 At the beginning of the 19th century, many European and American expeditions were being sponsored to send explorers to the native islands of…

History of a Tattooed Attraction: Jean Baptiste Cabri Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=28143&l=en At the end of the 18th century, more and more journeys were being made from Europe to the newly discovered South Pacific. Men would travel for months on end to visit the islands in the Pacific Ocean, and they would…

Tattoos in the Spotlight: A History of Tattoos and Sideshows By Ddicksson [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons Since the Middle Ages, people have been drawn to the entertainment of traveling shows that exploited the differences between the masses and the unique. These shows would place anything or anyone that was different from the…

Secrets Written on the Skin: Russian Prison Tattoos During the 20th century in the Soviet Un” (CC BY 2.0) by theopauls Throughout history, those shunned by society have sought unity amongst themselves by creating a language of allegiance and ranking through the ink embedded in their skin. Criminals and convicts all over the world have come together to…