Garages

Jackson in his book Landscape in Sight: Looking at America explains the transformation of garages. However, since his publication garages function and look have changed once again. The romantic garage explained by Jackson was for the very few at the time automobiles were being first made in the early 1900's. People who owned romantic garages were wealthy and could afford chauffeurs. The romantic garage served sometimes a carriage house, a garage for the car and a place of living for the chauffeur.

The practical garage was popular during the time were middle class Americans could afford automobliles and this happened during the 1920's and 1930's. These types of garages were box like and not attached to the home. They were small enough to fit a car, although in the 1930's a few wealthy people in California had the attached garage that became more popular as the century progressed.

The family garage became popular after world war II and it became the more common two car garage. This type of garage became attached to the homes and was used for recreation such as having a basketball hoop on it. The family garage was for storage of christmas lights, automobiles and other storage needs.

Today's modern garage depends on the person and how they want to use it. My next door neighbor uses his garage to build hot rods and does not park his motorcycle or car into. My family also does not use the garage to store cars. We use the garage to store our christmas decorations and pool supplies. I have noticed as I walked down my street other people's garages are empty and they use it for their cars. Others have put a spare fridge in their garage to hold extra food. When I went to Enfield, Connecticut in Feburary, I noticed that instead of garages a lot of homes had auto shelters, simply a roof over their cars. At my boyfriend's home they have a 5 car garage that is bigger than their home. They store cars for neighbors and their prized car like the romantic garage. It seems the modern garage is all three a romantic, pratical and family garage and it is up to the owner to decide its use.