Samsonite, best known for their luggage, was founded in Denver in 1910 by Jesse Shwayder. Jesse was born and raised in the late 19th century American West but found himself in his 20’s in New York selling luggage for the Seward Trunk and Bag Company. However, he had a dream. A dream of going home along with a dream of owning his own company. He did just that. That company was first named Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company. However, its name was changed in 1965 to Samsonite honoring its best-selling product. Jesse Shwayder named the line as such for its incredible strength which he likened to the Biblical character, Samson. The first 60-70 plus years Samsonite was operated by the Shwayder family and went through many expansions and changes. One of those expansions was into the furniture market. But by the 1970s they were bought out by the Beatrice umbrella. Again, going though many expansions and changes and……cutbacks too and changing hands many times. After all those years, the luggage portion of Samsonite is back in Denver operating from their original location. And, the furniture portion is operating as it did from its beginning in Murfreesboro, Tennesse. Samsonite Corporation and Samsonite Furniture are now separate companies.