Where were rollerblades invented?

Question

I have always heard it was Minnesota, and I want that to be true since Minnesota is the best place in the world. But I don't want to spread it around unless it's true.

Answer 1

"In-line skates were invented before "standard" roller skates, and are even older than the United States! But a single company made in-line skating the fastest-growing sport in America today."

They did make "roller blades"  although people were making things like them for years. Read the source for more info.

Answer 2

Scott Olson saw a pair of inline skates in a used equipment store and thought that they would be a good idea practicing skating (he was a hockey player) in the summer.

"The first documented inventor of a roller skate was John Joseph Merlin. Merlin was born September 17, 1735, in the city of Huys, Belgium. He was a well-known maker of musical instruments and other mechanical inventions".  His skates were inline and there is a patent from 1819 for inline skate improvements.

I asked Scott for information about the skates and he sent me an ad that looks like the skates we used in the 50's except that the metal wheels are inline instead of a rectangle.  The ad is from a Chicago company for clamp on skates.  

Scott (and his business partners) purchased the rights to the name Rollerblade from the Chicago Skate company and founded the RollerBlade company.  They improved the design with ureathane wheels and attached boots.

Their designs made them useful and popular.

I have seen Scott out in Highland Park (Bloomington) on his Row Bike (www.rowbike.com)