1960s
A dream-come-true vintage playhouse for the backyard: Creativity from the ’60s
This vintage playhouse from the ’60s is a real house, with a Dutch front door and hearts and flowers dormers and a white picket fence.
construction
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1960s
Design & decor for a small but practical dream house (1960)
Our practical dream house: Practical in the sense of low maintenance. Dreamy in the way it realizes the family’s hopes. What a house costs to
1950s
A-frame house plans for second homes & family vacation cabins: 12 retro designs from the ’50s & ’60s
The A-frame house design is a tried and true style, and was especially popular for second homes and vacation cabins in the ’60s. See several retro A-frames here!
1960s
3 fun backyard additions: Mini-barn, outdoor kitchen & play castle (1965)
If your family never stays home because there’s nothing to do, check out these ways to pep up your yard or garden. Sometimes the simplest things, as in the play castle here, yields the most imaginative results.
1950s
40 vintage backyard ideas so fab, you’ll want to re-create this relaxing sixties-style outdoor living vibe
If you love the mid-century retro style and want to create that gorgeous, peaceful vintage backyard feel, get 40 of the best patio, deck & porch ideas here.
1800s
See how our famous Statue of Liberty was originally assembled, from the 6-story head to the gigantic torch
It took years to complete the construction of the Statue of Liberty – also known as Liberty Enlightening the World – but here are some peeks behind the scenes into how it was done!
1800s
The story of the truly bizarre Winchester Mystery House: From the haunted, mixed-up mind of Mrs William W Winchester
Inside the rambling 160-room Winchester Mystery House, doors lead into blank walls, staircases end in midair, trap doors spring to the floors below, and elevators rise through the roof.
1960s
How to make an old-school ‘anchors away’ boat shelter & patio (1961)
Move out of doors in style during the summer . . . yet provide year-round storage for your boat, motor and outdoor equipment with this boat shelter and convertible patio.
1910s
Charming & classic All-American suburban houses from 1919
Early in the 20th century, there was an interesting development in American home life — people started moving from the city out to the suburban districts and small towns. See some classic All-American suburban houses from that era here!
1960s
How to make a space-saving guest wall for visitors (1961)
Here’s an idea designed to make one room serve two purposes . . . a cozy, practical family room, plus well-planned facilities for extra guests or family additions.
1800s
Going up in style: 20 gorgeous ornate antique elevators
Why take the stairs while you can ride up in comfort inside one of these metalwork ‘cage’ style antique elevators, made with beautiful ornamental iron? Just tell the bellhop what floor you want.
1960s
How to make a roll-away children’s activity center (1961)
Children’s activity center Hours of family-planned fun with this compact “home saver” A separate little world for the youngsters of your house . . .
1960s
A vacation home on the water: The Homarina beach cabin (1960)
The Homarina beach cabin provides secure boat storage, over 400 square feet of comfortable, practical leisure living space, plus a large deck right at water’s edge.
1950s
The retro-modern space-age house: Monsanto’s Home of the Future at Disneyland (’50s & ’60s)
Monsanto’s Home of the Future at Disneyland – set in the futuristic year 1986 – was built almost entirely of plastic, either alone or in combination with traditional building materials.
1960s
A vacation home with Japanese style: Summer teahouse (1960)
A touch of Old Japan, added to the occidental comforts and convenience you’ve come to expect — that’s this charming summer teahouse vacation home design from 1960.
1950s
7 budget small house designs (1956)
These seven unique budget small house designs prove that good things still do come in small packages — that originality can make the tiniest house attractive!
1960s
How to make a boy’s Alaskan bedroom hideaway (1961)
Boy’s Alaskan bedroom hideaway Built-in utility… plus a new world of adventure The young men of your house will appreciate this beautiful and practical “Alaskan
1960s
How to make a kitchen center island (1961)
Kitchen center island A step-saving kitchen island with roll-away cart This kitchen island food preparation and serving center is designed to save you steps, and
1960s
How to make a fold-away dining corner in your kitchen (1961)
Fold-away dining corner A family-centered dining nook tucks away into warm wood paneling Here is an idea that will provide additional living space in your
1970s
An unforgettable lemon-and-lime colored kitchen (1977)
Over, under and all around, a sunny mood pervades this lemon-and-lime kitchen in suburban Cincinnati. But this kitchen has more than good looks.
1920s
14 quaint residential garage additions from the twenties
Few families today are without automobiles, so the lack of a garage affects the resale value of any home. A garage not in good taste architecturally almost as seriously affects that value.
1960s
How to make a buffet server for your dining room & kitchen (1961)
Make a ‘Finger-tip’ buffet server Display, serve, store, “roll away” with this serving center of fine wood This built-in buffet will save you steps, help
1960s
How to make a fold-up home workshop (1961)
Make a fold-up home workshop Plan, work, store, protect with this “fold away” workshop For Dad only . . . a complete, self-contained home workshop
1960s
How to make a ‘Lazy Susan’ wardrobe closet for your bedroom (1961)
Make a ‘Lazy Susan’ wardrobe Four-season wardrobe selection at the touch of a finger Separate your wardrobe by season . . . by formal and
1950s
TWA’s space age Flight Center opens at New York’s JFK Airport (1962)
Probably the most beautiful, and certainly the most imaginative, air terminal in the world will be unveiled when Trans World Airlines formally opens its new Flight Center at New York International Airport (Idlewild).
1960s
Testing the aloha spirit: Hawaii’s tourist boom brings growing pains (1960)
Hawaii is experiencing its greatest tourist boom in history. But there are fears that the Islands’ friendly Aloha spirit will be sacrificed in the rush to keep pace with the influx.
1940s
Modernism reigns: The SF Bay Area’s new Orinda Theatre opens (1941)
Modernism reigns in house situated at ‘The Crossroads’ Promptly at 7 tomorrow night, the doors of the new Orinda Theater will swing open for the
1920s
The construction of the Empire State Building (1929-1930)
The highest building in the world will be built on the site of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. It will be known as the Empire State Building, will be eighty stories high, and will cost more than $66,000,000.
1800s
Asbestos: What it is, and where it’s found (1896)
Thousands of lives would be lost before it was discovered that simple asbestos – something natural, helpful and seemingly innocuous – would actually lead to many major health problems.[
1800s
A castle in the clouds: The Vanderbilt Mansion, Biltmore (1895)
A castle in the clouds Lavish expenditure of money: A thirty-thousand acre farm improved at an expense of $6,000,000 The Vanderbilt Mansion on a North Carolina
Culture & lifestyle
7 popular new home styles of the 1920s
One of the first problems which confronts the prospective home builder is the selection of the style of architecture for his new home. New England
1950s
Everyone’s dream: An affordable vacation cabin (1958)
Vacation cabin This vacation cabin is the answer to everybody’s dream: a place to get away from it all for as little money as possible.
1910s
Titanic: 45,000 ton monster ready for service (1912)
Titanic: 45,000 ton monster ready for service Only the other day, the Lusitania and her the Mauretania were the world wonder sisters of the briny. Now they must
1950s
A DIY picnic set (1955)
Make a picnic table that’s BIG A DIY picnic set Our 3′-by-8′ picnic table is planned for outdoor eating, with lots of people and plenty of
1910s
World’s largest vessel, the Titanic, being built (1910)
Here is an architectural picture of the steamship Titanic, which is being built for the White Star line at Belfast; also a view of the giant steel “cradle” in which the ship is being constructed.
1970s
Housing: Is the US ready to take the lead? (1976)
Housing: Ready to take the lead? The US has climbed out of recession five times since World War II — and every recovery but one
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