Can you name the world's first appliance? If you guessed "rock," you're correct. We've come a long way since the days when a "washing machine" would have been a flat rock near a running stream. In fact, appliances have become a booming business: In 1996, Americans spent $15 billion on big-ticket items such as refrigerators, ranges, and washing machines. Read on to learn more about the evolution of these household wonders, and check out our interview with appliance expert Jack Santoro to find out why he thinks older appliances are better than those being produced today.

Read more about:

• Interview with American Applicance Historian Jack Santoro
• The History of the Refrigerator
• The History of the Vacuum Cleaner
• The History of the Washing Machine