The American Porch

The former American History editor explores the creation and restoration of an essential part of a twentieth-century homes identitythe American porch. In 1981, Michael Dolan and his wife, Eileen OToole, bought a 1926 suburban bungalow in the Palisades area of Washington, DC. It was a fixer-upper and DIY project that consumed their lives for twelve years. As rooms were transformed with updated electrical wiring and plumbing, the houses porch became a storage area, rotating appliances, furniture, and construction materials as they were used and discarded. After the interior renovation was completed, Michael finally turned his attention to the porch, working with contractors to resurrect ita reconstruction that inspired him to uncover the history of porches and their significance as a symbolic piece of Americana.