History

• The history of the gazebo is as old as the world's gardens. The earliest known gazebos were traced back to the Egyptians as early as 5000 BC. Ancient Roman and Grecian garden architecture boasted gazebos which are thought to have been used as small temples.
  
  

Purpose

• Gazebos are used today for outdoor activities such as dining, musical performances and socializing. Often times, located in gardens, gazebos are also used to enjoy nature.
  
  

Construction

• Group of musicians under a gazeboImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of marya
  
  Ready-made gazebos come in a variety of materials including wood, vinyl and wrought iron. You can also purchase gazebo kits and gazebo construction plans to build your own. Custom gazebos can be made of wood, marble, concrete or metal. Some gazebos are enclosed with screens or mosquito netting.
  
  Gazebo roofs are made of various materials, depending on the construction of the gazebo base and the design; they include cloth, metal, vinyl, and wood or asphalt shingles. Cupolas and weathervanes are used as decorative roof accents.
  
  Stationary gazebos can be electrically wired for outlets, lights and ceilings fans.
  
  

Style

• Gazebos vary in styles as well, Chinese, Victorian, and Grecian. They are not limited to the region for which they are known as many styles can be found in the North America and around the world.
  
  Chinese-style gazebos feature lilted roofs and are often times located near a water feature such as a koi pond. Victorian gazebos sport elaborate gingerbread trim and shingled roofs and Grecian gazebos are often built to resemble small temples.
  
  

Size and Shape

• According to Gazebocreations.com, gazebos come in many shapes including rectangular, square, octagonal, oval, hexagon and dodecagon (12-sided). Sizes vary, with the rectangular and the dodecagon offering the most interior space.
  
  

Cost

• Simple portable structures are fairly inexpensive starting at around $30. Permanent custom structures can be very expensive running $20,000 or more depending on size, shape, design and materials.