The Mansion of Happiness 1843

The first board game commercially produced in the United States however, the distinction is awarded to Travellers' tour through the United Statesof 1822.

The object of the game is to be the first player to travel around the spiral track and reach the Mansion of Happiness at the center of the board. The Mansion of Happiness was based on the Puritan world view. Even game mechanics were influenced by the Puritan view. A spinner or a top-like teetotum, for instance, was utilized in children's board games rather than dice, which were then associated with Satan and gambling.The game track is populated with virtuous deed spaces like Honesty and Temperance (which move players forward to eternal happiness) and vices such as cruelty and ingratitude (that move players backward)

The game's rules note:

"WHOEVER possesses PIETY, HONESTY, TEMPERANCE, GRATITUDE, PRUDENCE, TRUTH, CHASTITY, SINCERITY...is entitled to Advance six numbers toward the Mansion of Happiness. WHOEVER gets into a PASSION must be taken to the water and have a ducking to cool him... WHOEVER posses[ses] AUDACITY, CRUELTY, IMMODESTY, or INGRATITUDE, must return to his former situation till his turn comes to spin again, and not even think of HAPPINESS, much less partake of it."

Board measures 18 1/2" X 15" with split in middle of board (two pieces). 1843 game board copyright Thayer & Co's Lithog Boston

Publishing History

W. & S. B. Ives of Salem, Massachusetts (1843) Parker Brothers (1894)