Glass has been used to make man-made objects since ancient times. In fact, the earliest specimens date to around 3500 B.C. and were discovered in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Glass is made by heating materials such as sand and cooling it in such a way that crystals do not form... Read more
A log cabin is a house constructed of the logs of trees. They are traditionally small structures, consisting of one or two rooms, but some are large and elaborate. In Europe, their history is ancient, while in North America, they are often associated with early European settlers... Read more
A pyramid is "a monumental structure" with triangular sides. In ancient Egypt, the pyramids were used as burial places for royalty... Read more
A cemetery or graveyard is a place set aside for burying the remains of the deceased. Cemeteries reflect the religious beliefs of the area and are often considered "holy ground." In some countries, such as Mexico and Japan, festivals in honor of the dead are celebrated in graveyards... Read more
A farm is a property devoted to agriculture - the keeping of useful plants and animals, mostly for food... Read more
A tent is a type of portable shelter that has been used since time immemorial. Ancient nomadic peoples lived in tents full-time, traveling from place to place. Militaries often house soldiers in tents when occupying a foreign land. And today, many people enjoy camping in tents recreationally. Tents are also used for events such as weddings and circuses... Read more
A barn is a classic farm building used for sheltering animals or items. Barn types may be named for their purpose; for example, a dairy barn is used for milking cows and a tobacco barn is used for drying tobacco after it is harvested. Others have specific names, like stable or shed... Read more
A couch is a piece of furniture designed to seat two or three people. Couches are usually upholstered (covered in fabric), with arms and a back for leaning against. Some couches recline or pull out to form a bed... Read more
A throne is a large, heavy chair, often elaborately decorated with jewels, precious metals, and expensive clothes. Thrones were usually used by kings, queens, pharaohs, and... Read more
A chair is a common piece of furniture throughout the world. It is also one of the most ancient. The oldest known chairs date to about 2600 B.C.E. and were from ancient Egypt... Read more
Today, the table is a basic article of furniture found in nearly every home around the world. The table is a flat surface supported by various sorts of legs. The table has been used since at least the seventh century B.C.E. - nearly 3,000 years... Read more
A church is a building used for religious activities, typically by a Christian denomination. Many traditional churches are laid out in the shape of a cross. As you can see from this drawing guide, several sections of the church jut out in different directions, forming the four-pointed shape... Read more
Beds are pieces of furniture used for sleeping. Different types of beds have been used throughout history, many very unlike the beds we know today. Some were simple piles of rugs or sacks stuffed with straw, while others were huge and elaborately carved... Read more
Creak! Does the idea of a creaky door send chills up your spine? Or does an open door remind you of the colorfully painted rowhouses of your favorite childhood television series? In literature, doors are often used to represent choices and the outcomes the character must face... Read more
In Egyptian mythology, the Sphinx was a creature that had a human head and the body of a lion. In one legend, a winged Sphinx asked the riddle, “What is it that has one voice year becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?” The Sphinx would eat anyone that could not give the proper answer... Read more
Since the 1800s, the World's Fair has been held every few years in countries around the world. Each of these fairs lasts for about six months and exhibits the latest industrial, cultural, and scientific... Read more
The igloo is an icon of the far north, especially the Arctic regions of Alaska, Greenland, and Canada. The term is from an Eskimo word meaning "house," and igloos still serve as temporary winter homes for... Read more
Today, the image of a schoolhouse is iconic of education itself. The concept of schools - formal groupings of students - existed as far back as... Read more
The above words can be found on a plaque at the Statue of Liberty. This statue stands on Liberty Island near New York City. It depicts a... Read more
Big, bustling cities have become a part of the global culture. Some cities are iconic. Paris is known as the City of Love; Tokyo is often called the Neon City. Other famous... Read more