Jackstraws

Clara Barton had this set of Jackstraws or Pick-Up Sticks, in her Glen Echo home. During the Victorian Era, games like this entertained many. Jackstraws, played with small wooden sticks carved into various shapes, was introduced to early settlers in America by Native Americans. The game involves a cluster of sticks or straws which are dropped onto a flat surface. Players must remove individual sticks without disturbing the others, demonstrating considerably steady hands and good coordination.