A saltbox house is a traditional New England style house with a long, pitched roof that slopes down to the back and is often framed with timber. A saltbox has one storey in the back and two in the front. The main entrance is at the side, usually under a pointed archway called a portico or porch. The name "saltbox" comes from the fact that they were originally built out of saltboxes, which are small boxes made of wood with a hinged cover that can be opened to expose dry goods for sale. These small boxes were used as shelves upon which to display items such as hats, vegetables, or pots of jam. Before electricity, salt was needed to preserve meat; thus these houses were built with this fact in mind. The roofs were made of salt because it was all there was available to keep the buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Since then, metal roofs have been developed that are more efficient at doing this job. However, many saltbox houses still exist today, showing that not everyone needs energy-efficient housing. There are several variations on the theme of the saltbox house including Colonial Revival, Dutch Colonial, and even an English cottage. But perhaps the most famous example of a saltbox house is George Washington's home in Mount Vernon, Virginia.