The History of Treehouses
For some, a treehouse is a fond childhood memory; for others, it is a favorite fantasy. Treehouses have a long history and appear in some of our favorite literary adventures including Robin Hood, Winnie-the-Pooh and The Swiss Family Robinson.
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Tropical Homes
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When European explorers first made contact with peoples of the South Pacific, they found many living high up in trees inside thatched structures that were reached by riding in a basket. Such lofty homes could offer safety from surprise attacks.
Ancient Rome
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The Roman Emperor Gaius Caligula was said to be so impressed with a plane tree's resemblance to a house that he ordered boards be laid across it branches; he then invited 15 guests to join him in the tree.
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Renaissance Italy
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A Medici family treehouse depicted in a 17th century engraving included a table, seats and fountains, all carved of marble; it was reached by climbing one of two marble staircases.
Tudor England
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One famous English treehouse, built in Tudor cottage style, was erected in a lime tree in Shropshire in the late 1600s (it still stands today). Thirteen-year-old Victoria, who would grow to be Queen of England, visited in 1832 and later recorded in her journal that she "went up a little staircase to a little house in a tree."
French Restaurants
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In the mid-1800s a town west of Paris because known for its tree-restaurants, where elaborate food was served by the use of ropes and pulleys. Advertised for their magnificent views, the restaurants were patronized for over 100 years, says Suki Casnave in "Treehouses Take a Bough." (See References 1)
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Nicole Makauskas
