The garage : its history and preservation

by Sager, Jonathan E.

A great deal has been written about the history of the automobile and its impact on the built environment, but there is little available information regarding auto storage and maintenance at the home. Over the course of the twentieth century, the presence of the car radically altered the landscape of much of the United States, and no aspect of this change is more representative of the automobile's influence than how individuals have related to the car at their residences. Part one of this work is a history of the garage in America from 1890 to 1952, focusing on technological and social trends that influenced its evolution. Part two addresses issues effecting the preservation of garages and includes the results of a 2002 survey of historic garages in Athens, Georgia. The study identified local preservation issues and rates and documented regional forms, methods of construction, and types of exterior cladding.