The first U.S. patent for a washing machine was issued on March 28, 1797, to Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire. The machine was a wooden drum operated by hand, designed to wash clothes more efficiently than the traditional method of washing by hand. The design included a corrugated board that rubbed against the clothes, filling the drum with water and soap. The machine was mounted on a wooden frame and could be turned by hand using a crank. While it was a significant innovation at the time, it was not until the 1900s that electric washing machines became widely available to the public.