When you think of Illinois, Chicago’s skyline and Abraham Lincoln might come to mind—but did you know it’s also the birthplace of the iconic sock monkey? That’s right, these quirky, long-limbed dolls with their signature red mouths trace their roots back to Rockford, Illinois!
History of the Sock Monkey
In 1868, Swedish immigrant John Nelson revolutionized sock-making in Rockford by patenting an automatic knitting machine capable of mass-producing socks—an innovation unheard of at the time. By 1871, his machine could produce up to 80 socks per day, paving the way for efficient, high-quality manufacturing. In 1880, Nelson founded the Nelson Knitting Company, introducing seamless “Nelson Socks,” which quickly became a staple of the industry.
Eventually, sock knitting became something of a Rockford industry—at one point, there were five companies producing socks in town! In 1932, the Nelson Knitting Company introduced its distinctive “De-Tec-Tip,” a red heel added to their socks to stand out from competitors and ensure brand recognition. While the exact origins of the first sock monkey are unknown, the design featuring Rockford’s iconic red heel as its mouth became so popular that by the 1950s, it sparked a patent dispute. Ultimately, the Nelson Knitting Company secured the patent, cementing Rockford’s reputation as the “home of the sock monkey.”
Sock Monkeys in Rockford Today
The sock monkey remains an important part of Rockford's identity today. In 2009, the first annual Sock Monkey Madness Festival took place at the Midway Village Museum. Now held every year, the event teaches kids and adults alike about the history of the sock monkey in Rockford, and even provides opportunities for guests to make their own sock monkeys!
The Midway Village Museum also hosts an exhibit called “The Missing Link: Socks, Monkeys and Rockford’s Industrial Past,” where visitors can learn about how socks (and sock monkeys) became essential to Rockford's industry. The museum also hosts one of the world's largest sock monkeys—it's over seven feet tall!
For some artists, the sock monkey is even a muse. In 2024, local artist Andrea Jablonski painted a mural on the streets of Rockford, showcasing important Rockford symbols and landmarks and, of course, the sock monkey had to be included!
You can also find an entire museum dedicated to sock monkeys in Long Grove, IL, called the Sock Monkey Museum. With over 2,000 sock monkeys, this quirky museum boasts the world's largest collection.
In July 2024, our minor league baseball team, the Rockford Rivets, temporarily changed their name to the “Screw City Sock Monkeys” to highlight Rockford's industrial past as both a producer of socks and screws. The event included a rebrand, with a new logo featuring a sock monkey holding a screw (and a baseball bat, of course!)
Today, the sock monkey continues to be a symbol not just for Rockford, but for America—a symbol of immigration, innovation, creativity, and time-old traditions passed on from generation to generation.
