Jacob's Ladder

This toy is one of the oldest and most famous of all folk/colonial toys. Some say that one was even found in the tomb of King Tut. This toy was named for the biblical Jacob who saw a ladder leading from earth to heaven in a vision. It is also a very quiet toy and great for fidgety young children. These two reasons mean that it was one of the only toys that children in colonial America could bring to and play with in church. It is still a wonderful played with by many to this day. If you hold the ladder by the top and rotate your wrist forwards and backwards, it to creates the optical illusion of wood pieces flipping. You can also make a variety of shapes with this toy such as a snake, an alligator, or a butterfly.