Beginning with the homes of the first European settlers to the North American colonies, and concluding with the latest trends in construction and design of houses and apartments in the United States, Homes through American History is a four-volume set intended for a general audience. From tenements to McMansions, from wattle-and-daub construction in early New England to sustainable materials for green housing, these books provide a rich historical tour through housing in the United States. Divided into 10 historical periods, the series explores a variety of home types and issues within a social, historical, and political context. For use in history, social studies, and literature classes, Homes through American History identifies ; A brief historical overview of the era, in order provide context to the discussion of homes and dwellings. ; Styles of domestic architecture around the country. ; Building material and manufacturing. ; Home layout and design. ; Furniture and decoration. ; Landscaping and outbuildings.






The four volumes in the set are each divided into two or three eras. Highlights of each volume include the following.





Volume One, 1492-1820, includes:





Homes in the Colonial Era, 1492-1781



Information about regional home-building material and techniques such as wattle and daub in the Northeast; brick and mortar in Virginia



wood for Massachusetts; adobe for the Southwest; and tabby in the Southeast



The gradual move to a new colonial style, including the saltbox style in the Northeast; Dutch colonial in the Middle colonies; and eventually Georgian and classical revival styles in the South and throughout the colonies



The importance of fences to establish property



Homes in the Federal Era, 1782-1820 by Melissa Duffes



Use of pattern books in design and construction



Innovations in building materials and services



Franklin stoves, Rumford ranges for heat



Plumbing-pumps and privies



Purpose-built rooms for designated events such as dining and the move of the bed out of the parlor into a bedroom



The importance of working gardens for houses in town



Volume Two, 1821-1900, includes:





Homes in the Revival Era, 1821-1860 by Nancy B. Mingus



Settlement patterns



The popularity of octagon houses



Cellars, attics, carriage houses, summer kitchens, and porches



Homes in the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1861-1880 by Thomas W. Paradis



Westward expansion and homestead acts



Styles including Italianate, Italian Villa, Stick Style, Eastlake



Second Empire



Tenements in New York, Sanitary Housing, and the beginning of company towns, such as Lowell, Massachusetts



Homes in the Gilded Era, 1881-1900 by Elizabeth B. Greene



Victorian home designs



Lavish ornamentation



Tenement living



Spread of indoor plumbing



Volume Three, 1901-1945, includes:





Homes in the Early Modern Era, 1901-1920 by Leslie Cormier



The use of electric lights



Planned parks and housing around them



Model town planning and garden apartments



Homes in the Depression and World War II Era, 1921-1945, by Neal Hitch



The massive impact on houses in the 1920s and 1930s by the automobile, improvements in refrigeration, heating technology, the telephone, and the radio



The movement toward small, owner-occupied, single-family housing



Volume Four, 1946-Present, includes:





Homes in the Suburban Era, 1946-1970 by Jane C. Busch



Opposition between traditional styles and modern design



the popularity of the ranch house and split level home



Interstate highways, shopping centers, and suburbs



Attempts and failures at urban renewal



Retirement communities



Homes in the Neoeclectic Era, 1971-1985 by Mark E. Braun



The rise of consumerism, yuppies, and homelessness



Design of new towns



Do-it-yourself remodeling and design



The beginnings of energy consciousness



Homes in the New Era, 1986-Present by Brenda Kayzar



New trends that draw from the past (small towns, compact design, mixed uses), now politically encompassed under the umbrella
ideal of Smart Growth





Support for new urbanist ideals of neo-traditional design, transit-oriented development, and infill projects