1930s Clapboard House Kitchen

You have just entered a typical kitchen from the late 1930s. Electricity came to most urban areas in the 1920s and 1930s, making life much easier for many Americans. The introduction of modern electric appliances increased the standard of living and ushered in the era of convenience and productivity.  

The kitchen was the heart of the home and the workplace of the woman. The room's compact design eased the amount of time women spent working and moving about in kitchens. The use of new household conveniences, like irons, toasters, and electric washing machines, also contributed to the efficiency of meal preparation and cleaning. The walls of this kitchen are painted with white enamel paint for easy cleaning. If you look closely, you will notice the baked enamel kitchen sink features hot and cold running water. How many of the manual kitchen utensils do you recognize?  Could you imagine working in such a small, confined area?  How does this 1930s kitchen compare to the kitchen in your home?

On the opposite side of the room, you will find the cupboard and the electric water heater. The glassware, known as "Depression Glass," was inexpensive in the 1930s. Some manufacturers included this glassware with their products to entice customers, and some theaters even used it in promotional giveaways to boost ticket sales during the lean years of the Depression.  In spite of its humble origins, Depression Glass has now become collectible.

A woman relaxes in her thoroughly modern kitchen.