The phrase “do-it-yourself” first appeared in an October 1912 article in Suburban Life encouraging men to do their own interior painting instead of hiring professionals. So says the site accompanying the National Building Museum’s exhibit “Do It Yourself: Home Improvement in 20th-Century America.” How did home improvement become a hobby? Did the lure of power tools drive us to consider house makeovers as a leisure activity? In the 1870s and 1880s the treadle-driven scroll saw, “America’s original leisure power tool”, kicked off an interest in home improvement skills amongst the middle class which continues today. Men started taking over basements and garages for workshops. The Sears catalog catered to their tool and material needs. Eventually the entire building industry was designing products and packaging materials for do it yourselfers. Black & Decker introduced the trigger grip power drill in 1917. As American homes aged there were more improvements to be made and also historical details to preserve. Modernization co-existed with renovation. Working on the house is now an accepted hobby, and one to take pride in.