The Suitcase

A suitcase is a bag made for travel. It keeps your clothes and things safe while you move from place to place. Old suitcases were heavy and had to be carried by hand. Today, most suitcases have wheels that make them easy to roll.

From Trunks to Suitcases

Long ago, travelers used big wooden boxes called trunks. Trunks were heavy and hard to move. In the 1800s, lighter bags called suitcases became popular. They were made of leather or cloth stretched over a frame. People used them on trains and ships.

Wheels Change Everything

For a long time, suitcases did not have wheels. Travelers had to carry them or use carts. In 1970, a man named Bernard Sadow added wheels to suitcases. Later in 1987, a pilot named Robert Plath added an upright handle and two wheels. Now kids and adults can pull heavy bags with just one hand.

Fun Facts

• The biggest suitcase ever made was bigger than a car.
• Hard-shell suitcases protect things better from bumps.
• Airports weigh suitcases before putting them on planes.

Did You Know?

Before wheeled suitcases, many travelers paid porters at train stations to carry their heavy bags for them.