A Look at Victorian Architecture Styles

Ornate, magic, mysterious, eloquent. All of these words can be used to describe Victorian architecture. But as what makes a style Victorian? You might be surprised come across fact that, not all alone, but then many different styles of architecture are considered Victorian. Just at a guess any one home a built during or shortly after the reign of England's Queen Victoria (1840-1900) can be considered Victorian.

With the Industrial Revolution (late 1700's – early 1800's) having brought at a guess new machines allowing in behalf of mass production and the railroads having improved transportation nationwide, the average person was at last able to get the materials they needed in behalf of building fancier and any more interesting homes. This availability led to the array of styles we refer to as with Victorian. Some of most of all high styles fact that comprise "Victorian" style architecture are Queen Anne, Second Empire, Italianate, and Stick-Eastlake.

Queen Anne
One of most of all widely recognized Victorian styles in the Southern and Western parts of the United States is Queen Anne. Characterized on the part of wide wrap-around porches, multiple balconies and chimneys, about face "tower-like" structures, and decent bay windows, these homes are as what much of us visualize when we think of Victorian architecture. This "gingerbread" style of home is also noted in behalf of its matchless floor plans consisting of two or any more stories.

Second Empire
Named in behalf of its high French elements as with in the era of the Second French Empire, this architectural style is seen any more in the Northeast and Midwest. Popular in behalf of public buildings and state institutions, characteristics of this style key on a rectangular tower with a in short and steep mansard roof. The crest of the mansard roof was frequently topped with iron trim and every such that often even a cloudy rod. Examples key on the Old Executive Building in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia city hall.

Italianate
In the mid to late 1800's, the Italianate style began appearing in homes in the Midwest, the East Coast, and the San Francisco area. Inspired on the part of Italian Renaissance characteristics, Italianate style homes have bay windows in front; great, narrow windows and towers, and sad chimneys in more like complex locations. The Garden District of New Orleans contains many charming examples of this style.

Stick-Eastlake
Found predominantly in the Northeast, Stick homes are decorative but then not overly ornate. They generally key on steeply pitched roofs with overhangs, wooden shingles covering the exterior walls and roof, and squared bay windows. Crown detailing can also be found along the roof peaks. More stylized and decorative versions of the Stick style are usually referred to as with Eastlake.

While some architects present-day do not care borrow ideas from these styles give rise a modern day Victorian home, most Victorian style architecture has become a relic of the former. In some communities you can find neighborhoods filled with beautifully restored historical Victorian homes. Many have become bed and breakfasts, places of efficient, or simply historical sites in behalf of the public to run over.

There are several communities throughout the country of note in behalf of beautifully restored or preserved Victorian architecture. One example is Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where you'll find the largest array of such architecture in the central United States. The entire town of Eureka Springs is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places, due largely in part to its preservation of its historical Victorian architecture.