Coonskin caps were originally made from raccoon hide. Coonskin caps are a type of headwear that has come to be identified with the early years of the American frontier. Essentially, the coonskin cap is composed of the fur of the body of a raccoon, complete with the tail of the animal.
Where did the coonskin cap come from?
Coonskin caps were originally worn by some American Indians as a traditional article of clothing; however, European pioneers that settled in the Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina regions in the 18th and 19th centuries adopted it as their own and wore them as hunting caps.
Why did kids wear coonskin hats in the 1950s?
When European frontiersmen began settling the Tennessee and Kentucky areas, the settlers started wearing them as hunting caps. The coonskin cap quickly became a part of the iconic image associated with American frontiersmen such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.
