ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

American historic carpentry

Carpentry is a fancy word for building things out of wood. In the past, people in America used wood to make all kinds of buildings and structures, like houses and barns.

The way people built these things was different back then, too. They didn't use modern tools and machines like we do now. Instead, they used hand tools like hammers, saws, and chisels.

One way that historic carpentry was different from modern carpentry is in the way they used wood. Many buildings were built using a technique called "timber framing." This means that the wooden beams used to build the building were put together using jointed wood connections, rather than being nailed or screwed together like we do today. This made the buildings much stronger and more durable.

Another thing that was different about historic carpentry is that people were skilled in many different types of carpentry. They didn't just know how to build houses, they also knew how to build furniture, wagons, and other things made of wood. There were even people who specialized in making different parts of a building, like doors, windows, or stairs.

Today, many historic buildings still stand and have been preserved for people to visit and learn about the history of carpentry in America. They are a reminder of how people built things in the past, and how important carpentry has been to our country's history.