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Celebrate Summer With Vintage Photos of Swimming Pools Across America

2 minute read

Though summer won’t official start for a few weeks, the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S. — celebrated on the final Monday in May — is often considered the unofficial start of the season, which many will celebrate poolside.

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Caption from LIFE. Equipment roundup shows extras an owner usually buys.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Though the concept of the swimming pool is an ancient one, such places were generally public or semi-public until relatively recently. Even during what swimming-pool expert Jeff Wiltse has described to NPR as the “pool-building spree” of the 1920s and ’30s, most of the pools being built were large, resort-style ones. Owning a private pool was so expensive and difficult that only the very wealthy could do so. That changed around 1960 — due to technology but also, as Wiltse points out, sometimes due to backlash to the desegregation of public pools.

When LIFE magazine sent photographer Joe Scherschel to capture the new world of the backyard swimming pool in 1960, the magazine reported that U.S. consumers were predicted to spend $250 million — that’s more than $2 billion of today’s dollars — on private pools. And, thanks to new innovations in pool building, the cost of a backyard pool was way down, so do-it-yourself fans and middle-class families could afford to add a pool to their property for far less than it would have cost before.

But not everything was perfect in the pool, as LIFE pointed out: “Pool owners must cope with water filters, seasonal changes and sudden friends.”

Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Outtake from "In the swim in the backyard." A family at their backyard swimming pool, in foreground little girl swimming and pushing the floating rowboat with boy aboard.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Caption from LIFE. $1,395 do-it-yourself kit for plastic-lined pools is put out by Buster Crabbe Pools. William J. Steiner of Trenton, N.J. shown here with daughter Susan, had hole excavated for $60. He and his brother put in the 16x32 pool in two days. Kit included filter. Mr. Steiner bought $300 worth of extras, including skimmer, ladder, vacuum cleaner.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Outtake from "In the swim in the backyard."Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Outtake from "In the swim in the backyard."Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Caption from LIFE. $3,500 was the total cost of this mountain lake pool in the backyard of Mrs. Gina Wilcox, Beverly Hills, California. Sixteen-year-old daughter Nickie, in the pool, qualifies as a class-A swimmer. It was designed by a pair of young builders, Naomi and Robert Sommer. It is made of Gunite- sprayed concrete- which is the easiest way to build a free-form pool.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Outtake from "In the swim in the backyard." Models wearing the latest 1960 model of a Jantzen swimsuit. Pool with two statues of boys astride dolphins belongs to Mr. & Mrs. David Haft. David Haft is a television writer and producer. The pool was designed and built by Paddock. It is known as their "Santa Barbara" shape, Beverly Hills, CA.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Caption from LIFE. $9000 lakeside pool owned by Norman Tishman of Mamaroneck, N.Y. was built by E. L. Wagner Co. of Guinite in a free form to fit at the edge of the lake. The Tishmans wanted a pool because their lake is shallow and often unpleasantly warm for swimming. It is also stocked with bass for fishing. The pool 25' x 50' has underwater lights, filter system, steps at either end. Mrs. Tishman, third from the left at poolside, says she often swims 10 times a day during good weather.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Outtake from "In the swim in the backyard." $2,800, exclusive of wide decks, was the cost of the 34' x 17' pool which Mrs. Wilbur S. Forrest installed behind her house new New Hope, PA., as a treat for her eight grandchildren. Here some of the grandchildren are playing around the pool and playing shuffleboard. Designed by Donald B. Kooker and installed by Sylvan Pools, it is made of poured concrete with steel reinforcing, has a filter, surface skimmer, built-in steps and ladder. Concrete decks have a painted checkerboard and shuffleboard.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Caption from LIFE.Pool of sprayed concrete (20' x 40') is owned by Dr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Curphey, Los Angeles, Calif. It was built by Anthony Pools, Inc. Price includes filter, heating system, coping. The $1,000 deck is large enough for poolside entertaining. Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Caption from LIFE. $2,800, exclusive of wide decks, was the cost of the 34' x 17' pool which Mrs. Wilbur S. Forrest installed behind her house near New Hope, PA., as a treat for her eight grandchildren. Here some of the grandchildren are playing around the pool. Designed by Donald B. Kooker and installed by Sylvan Pools, it is made of poured concrete with steel reinforcing, has a filter, surface skimmer, built-in steps and ladder. Concrete decks have a painted checkerboard and shuffleboard.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Caption from LIFE. $10,000 pool of sprayed concrete was bult by Lambert-Paddock for Mr. and Mrs. William R. Glasgow of Dallas, Texas. Price includes the Colorado flagstone decks, the landscaping, stone steps at far end of pool, lighting among tree. Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Caption from LIFE. $6,800 concrete block pool, built into solid rock, flanks the Bedford Village, New York house of Designer William Pahlmann. Since it had to be gouged out of the rock with compressed air-drills, it is small, 32' x 12'. At one part it is 8 feet deep for diving. The bottom is cement decorated with unglazed tiles and the inside walls are finished with painted cement. The wide deck is flagstone and tile. In the foreground host Pahlmann pours coffee and liqueurs for friends.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Color photographs of backyard pools in 1960.
Caption from LIFE. $12,800 dramatic pool, 45' x 40', with reflecting water lily pond by its side belongs to Tom Slick of San Antonio,Texas. It was designed by O'Neil Ford. Den, living room, library, master bedroom open into it through large glass doors. Pool is lined with black marble dust mixed with cement which gives a blue rather than green effect to the water. The rim of pool is Mexican charcoal lava; the terrace is handmade Mexican tile; hanging lights at the house are pierced Mexican pottery.Joe Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com