You probably come across tarp, or tarpaulin, in one form or another on at least a weekly basis, but have you ever really given it much thought?
Well, history books record the use of tarpaulin as early as the 14th century. But it was in the 17th century that this strong, flexible, and water-resistant material really made its mark as a fabric used by the world's navies and merchant fleets to keep valuable cargo clean and dry. Today, we use tarp for all sorts of purposes, from covering cars to creating wind breaks.
But how did this ubiquitous and super versatile material evolve? Click through and uncover the history of tarpaulin.