A few light years back.

Nearly 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a better idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman. And the company he founded would change life in America. A fascinating saga, if we do say so ourselves. One filled with historical significance, amazing innovations and delightfully fun things to know.

Our current catalog is thick with recently introduced products that make spending time outside a pleasure. There are products just for kids. A technologically-advanced, proven mosquito-defense system. Coolers that keep food and drinks cold for up to five days. A complete line of grills, lights, heaters and more for your backyard. An accessory line with 100 separate items. And a backpacking stove featuring technology so remarkable and so relevant that Backpacker Magazine named it Editors' Choice in 1997.

If you have a few minutes, the story is here. Most of it, anyhow. In bits and pieces and pictures. Settle back and discover how Coleman came to be a way of life in America. And why it still is.

A man with poor eyesight but remarkable vision
The Saturday Evening Post said, "Except for Thomas A. Edison, Mr. Coleman may be responsible for the creation of more bright light than any other man." Here's the scoop.

The sunshine of the night
Life on the farm - for anyone who worked outside - would never be the same.

Coleman hits the road
With the advent of the automobile, America gets travel fever. And Coleman goes along for the ride.

A little industrial complex on the prairie
By the 1930s, Coleman had the largest number of working lathes west of the Mississippi. And they were humming.

The heat of battle
Deemed one of the most important noncombat pieces of equipment to come out of WWII, here's the story of a real hero: the Coleman GI Pocket Stove.

Tapping into America's outside interests
Blowing soap bubbles inspired Coleman engineers to develop an American family staple: the plastic cooler.

Climbing mountains and fording streams
By the time the '80s drew to a close, the little lantern company was turning out 15 million products a year for in-love-with-the-outdoors Americans.

Never a dull moment on our drawing board
What's new, now and later.