The History of Swimming Pools

People have always loved swimming and soaking in water, from what historical records show. Put human beings next to any body of water, and it’s only a matter of time before one of us decides to take a dip, and the rest follow!

Swimming in nature, like in an ocean, is not without its risks! But swimming in a pool takes away most of those concerns (although gators occasionally crop up in Floridian pools). 

The history of the swimming pool is a story worth diving into.

When were 'pools' invented?

Just when swimming pools were invented depends on how you define a swimming pool. The earliest man-made pools of note were the Great Baths of Mohenjo-daro in Pakistan.

Built in 2600 B.C.E. (before the Christian era) give or take a few centuries, the Great Baths were constructed from plaster-covered bricks, sealed with a tar sealant, and surrounded by terraced decks. 

While the Great Baths certainly sound like a swimming pool, it’s thought people used them primarily for religious reasons. No one was swimming laps at Mohenjo-daro, so while definitely an ancient, artificial pool, the Baths don’t quite fit the modern swimming pool definition.

So when were 'swimming' pools invented?

Historians often point to the Greeks and Romans as the first cultures to build pools designed specifically for swimming. In both cultures, bath houses existed, but like Mohenjo-daro, they weren't exactly swimming pools.

According to Archaeology Magazine, Roman culture prioritized physical fitness. Romans, in particular, were known to exercise at bath houses, even incorporating games into their visits, especially ball games, so beach ball isn’t necessarily such a modern concept!

Some baths, such as the natatio in Pompeii, are even visually similar to pools today, complete with tile work and decoration.

Interestingly, the very word natatio exists in modern languages descended from Latin. Natación is the word for swimming in Spanish, and English has its own similar word – natation, though its use has declined significantly since the late 1800s.

Who Invented the swimming pool we know today?

After the Romans, there’s a bit of a gap in the history of swimming pools, at least in Western culture. Turns out the wars, plagues, and general unrest of the Middle Ages weren’t conducive to advances in swimming facilities. It was back to lakes and oceans for swimming fans until the middle of the nineteenth century.

The first public indoor swimming pool in England was a salt-water pool called St. George’s Baths, which opened in 1828. By 1837, London boasted six indoor pools. 

Of course, one can’t talk about swimming in that era without also commenting on the unique poolside fashions of the era.  As the English community continued to enjoy the waters, local leaders eventually called for some sort of designated swimwear. The term bathing suit was born out of this!

Early bathing suits were, especially for women, on the cumbersome side. They tended toward modesty, and often were constructed with heavy materials like wool.

Taking a look at swimwear in America reveals its clear descent from the bathing suits of Europe. Initially, it was just as modest and cumbersome as its fashion ancestors… until one Australian swimmer stepped onto the scene. 

Annette Kellerman, who is now credited as being one of the first women to embrace a one-piece swimsuit, was actually arrested in Boston in 1907 for her fashion choices on a local beach. Within the next half decade, however, the one-piece took off… especially when women’s swimming was featured in the 1912 Olympics! 

A number of technical advancements around the turn of the 20th century led to the creation of the first generation of truly modern pools.  Chief among those, rapid-sand filtration and chlorination.  Two innovative technologies that triggered the modern era of public water treatment.

Luxury hotels began adding pools in the 1930s, and by the 1940s, private pools had become status symbols. The popularity of the home pool increased after WWII as GI's, who learned to swim during their military service, returned home and used the GI bill to buy homes. 

Fast forward to today, and the US boasts over 300,000 public swimming pools. It’s estimated there are more than 10 million home pools across the country.

Today, swimming pools are even aligned with the concept of the American Dream, enhancing comfort and relaxation at homes across the nation. This concept was even embraced at the White House... President Gerald Ford immediately made his presidential home more comfortable by adding a pool in 1975.