United States – October 12, 2026 -- Today's American garage can double as a home gym, office, game room, art studio or even a guest apartment, a long way from its origins as a shelter for horse-drawn carriages. LeMay – America's Car Museum has traced that transformation across more than a century.
Carriage houses laid the blueprint
In the late 19th century, elite homes had carriage houses behind the main residence. They held carriages, tack and feed, often with stalls for horses and upstairs quarters for stablehands or drivers. As cars spread in the early 20th century, these buildings became obsolete, but they set the template for the garage.
Detached sheds gave way to attached garages
In the 1910s and 1920s, homeowners built detached garages of wood or brick to protect their new cars from the weather. By the 1940s and '50s, attached garages were common in suburban homes, especially during the post-WWII housing boom. By the 1960s, the purpose-built attached garage was a prominent part of the American home.
Hot rod builders turned garages into workshops
During the hot rod and muscle car era, garages filled with tools and grease-stained rags. Customizers Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and George Barris did much of their early work in modest garages.
Today's garages serve five or more roles
- Home gyms with weight racks and cardio equipment
- Home offices, especially since 2020, with desks, lighting and insulation upgrades
- Game rooms with TVs, kegerators and vintage signs
- Guest apartments or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in urban areas where housing is tight
- Art studios and maker spaces for crafts, hobbies and small businesses
Storing vehicles remains the core job, and car enthusiasts are building out their garages to reflect their taste in vehicles and music.
EV chargers and epoxy floors are becoming standard features
As electric vehicles become more common, modern garages often add EV charging stations, smart lighting, security systems and climate control. Builders are finishing the walls, laying durable epoxy floors and installing designer lighting. One garage might hold a vintage Corvette, a Peloton, a home theater or a high-end tool wall.
The museum has also welcomed Integrity Garage Floors as a sponsor. The company supplies premium garage floor coating systems.