The kitchen is perhaps the most important place in American homes, and it has been for at least the last 100 years. It not only serves as a place to cook meals but also a gathering place for family conversation and bonding.

Kitchens are also great markers of how American culture and technological development have changed, and can serve as a sort of time capsule into our biggest achievements. Let’s take a look back at some of the most dramatic changes kitchens have experienced in the last century.