Puzzles were originally used as a means to educate.

It's not known exactly when the first puzzle appeared, but we do know that in the 1760s British engraver and mapmaker John Spilsbury attached one of his hand-colored maps to a thin piece of mahogany and, with a saw, cut the countries along their borders. That simple concept became an important tool in the teaching of geography. Early jigsaw puzzles were fashioned from wood, with cardboard being an affordable die-cut option that was introduced in the late 1800s. By then, puzzles had moved beyond the realm of childhood education, and into the world of an adult pastime. The Industrial Revolution produced more difficult puzzles and the strides made in transportation technology brought jigsaw puzzles to the world.

Because they provided families with economical entertainment, the Great Depression of the 1930s produced record numbers of jigsaw puzzles. They could be easily shared or traded amongst friends and neighbors. And what the millions of unemployed knew was that the worries of the day could be allayed for the time it took to build a puzzle.

From such a simple idea, jigsaw puzzles have evolved and, today, can be thousands of pieces or three dimensional, but they are still educational and relaxing. Some are still made of wood and teach a geography lesson, but they also teach methodology and offer a myriad of educational opportunities. They still pull us away from the stresses of the day and provide us with hours of unharried entertainment.

Our Historical Image Collection

Different Era and a Different Product.

The Jigsaw Puzzle Club journeys into the past and brings historic images into the limelight. Working in partnership with various museums, historical societies, libraries and personal collections across the country, the black and white photographs featured on our puzzles have been restored for preservation and clarity. The images capture significant events, inventions, daily life, landscapes and leisures reminiscent of American culture.

Every picture has a story.

Each classic photographic image provides a glimpse into the past. We have painstakingly researched each image and provide historical facts, anecdotes and/or information on the back of every puzzle box.

The selection of images ranges from architecture and landmarks, to street scenes and events, transportation, professions, the everyday, at play and in sports. With such variety, these puzzles satisfy a wide range of interests and will delight, intrigue, and inspire people of all ages and interests.

We have also designed the box itself for visual appeal and easy storage. Whether stacked atop or set side-by-side like books in a library, you can see a thumbnail image of the puzzle along with it's title. They look great on a bookshelf!

Some of our Historical Images
You can view and read about many of our great images by watching our Slideshow.
Riverboat Landing Jigsaw	Empire Builder Jigsaw	Wrigley Field Jigsaw
Full Service Jigsaw	Meow! Jigsaw	The White City Jigsaw
Red Bridge Swamp Jigsaw	The Foursome Jigsaw	Old Soldier Field Jigsaw
Fulton Fish Market Jigsaw	Dick & Elvis Jigsaw	Urban Rails Jigsaw
Grand Canyon Jigsaw	Towering Michigan Ave Jigsaw	The Chicago River Jigsaw
Wall Street Jigsaw	At the Fair Jigsaw	Cubs vs. Giants Jigsaw
	The 1893 World's Fair Jigsaw	Play Action Jigsaw
	South Colonnade Jigsaw	The Brooklyn Bridge Jigsaw

Note: An extensive library of historic images featured on a wide variety of products are available for purchase at our sister company, The Nice Card Company.