The Turner Movement was founded in Germany in 1811 by Frederick Ludwig Jahn. Father Jahn perfected a system of physical education in public outdoor gymnasiums.
The first system of physical education was divided into three groups: elective exercises, obligatory class gymnastics and games.
Turnerism was first introduced to the United States by three disciples of Father Jahn: Dr. Karl Follen, Dr. Franz Lieber, and Dr. Karl Beck. The first outdoor gym in Boston was opened by Dr. Follen in 1830; he also introduced gymnastics and the first gymnasium to Harvard University.
The first Turner society was founded by Frederick Hecker in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 22, 1848. Immediately after this first Tuner society was formed, other organizations were quick to follow. In 1856 the Turners held thier first convention as a National Body in Washington, D.C..
The main order of business at this convention was to establish a college; many years later, in 1870, this college was opened as Normal College in Indianapolis, Indiana. Due to a Turner convention at Normal College in 1880, physical education was introduced to schools throughout the U.S..
The first playground system in Chicago was introduced by Turner gym instructors, and for the past 70 years Turners have remained instrumental in both the Board of Education and the Playground System.
Many of the Turner gymnastic champions have been selected for membership on the U.S. Olympic team. Turners have also represented our country at the National Meets, the Pan American Games, and others.
During the Civil war, over 75% of all U.S. Turners served in active service. They had regiments in Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York and Minnesota, . These regiments were comprised of 21 regiments of Infantry, 2 regiments of Cavalry and 2 batteries of Artillery. In St. Louis the Turners helped to capture Camp Jackson and save Missouri for the Union; in Baltimore, the Turner Hall was burned down by a mob when the Turners refused to remove the Stars & Stripes in favor of a Rebel flag. Turner bodyguards guarded President Lincoln wherever he spoke, including his inauguration on March 4, 1861.
Today there are Turner organizations in many major cities, including Chicago, New York, Louisville, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Milwaukee.
