Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) is the practice of combining scaffolds, cells and biologically active molecules into functional tissue. The goal of TERM is to assemble functional constructs that restore, maintain or improve damaged or non-functional tissue. The concept of artificial generation of living, functional tissue has always been the subject of fascination for human beings, but for most of human history it has been mainly confined to mythology. The biblical tale of the creation of Eve from one of Adam’s ribs, the legend of Prometheus sculpting mankind from clay and the construction of Frankenstein’s monster in Mary Shelley’s classic novel are all examples of early reference to the idea of tissue engineering. More tangibly, “tissue engineering” has also throughout history been used to reference the mechanical substitution of body parts by non-vital prosthetic devices, such as wooden leg prosthesis or metallic and ivory dental implants. It wasn’t until the 1980s, however, that tissue engineering in the true sense of the definition became a scientific reality. Through the invention and introduction of scaffoldings that were able to host and promote growth in living cells, the concept of tissue engineering and cell culture ex vivo became possible, opening the door for many future technological advancements. The generation of an external ear cartilaginous scaffold on the back of a living mouse, in vitro fertilisation, invention of dermal substitutes and even cloning are all examples of successful tissue engineering. These developments, and more, will be the subject of this review on the history of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.