
Ric Feld/AP Images
Lowe's started out as a family hardware store, but now it's a
- Lowe's boasts a long history, tracing its roots back to a single general store in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
- Business Insider took a look back at the company's history to get a better sense of how it has changed over the years.
- From a family hardware store to a modern-day big-box giant, here's a look back at how Lowe's has changed over time.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The modern-day Lowe's describes itself as the world's second largest home-improvement retailer.
In the wider world of retail, it's the big blue rival to Home Depot's orange cohort. For its customers, it's a local big-box store that offers the assortment of hardware options necessary for home projects.
But how did Lowe's get its start?
Well, the home-improvement chain can trace its roots all the way back to 1921. Throughout its history, Lowe's has undergone a number of important transitional phases, which have helped the company to morph into the home-improvement retailer we all know today.
Here's a look at the history of Lowe's: