More than a sequence of improved gadgets, the development of the kitchen in the United States mirrors the roles women have played privately and publicly. From the immense Colonial hearth to the compact galley tucked into a modern highrise, this perceptive narrative charts the uneven domestic landscape to provide a unique glimpse into American social and technological history.

With abundant material from old and rare books and magazines and 125 illustrations, including reproductions of antique advertisements and trading cards, this history gives a full picture of nearly 300 years of life at home and at table in the United States.