As a recreation skating has been continuously practiced on the canals of the Netherlands

since the Middle Ages by both males and females. Skating on the frozen ponds and fens
was popular in England in the 17th century, and the first skating club was formed in
Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1742. In the 1740s British servicemen introduced ice skating
to North America. It was also popular at the French court about 1776; Marie-Antoinette
was among the skaters. Napoleon Bonaparte skated at Auxerre in 1781.

The development of refrigerated ice rinks started the transformation of ice skating from
a seasonal pastime to a major sport and entertainment. The first rink with artificially
frozen ice, a private one, the Glaciarium, was opened in London in 1876. The first
artificially frozen rink in the United States was installed in the old Madison Square
Garden in New York City in 1879. Throughout the century more and more public rinks
with artificially produced ice appeared. The ability to create sheets of ice inside large
arenas gave rise to both skating sports and ice shows, which became a popular family
entertainment in the 20th century. It also allowed for ice skating to spread to regions
with warm climates.