National Register Of Historic Places Architectural Style Categories

Honestly, categorizing buildings feels like trying to sort dust motes in a sunbeam. You can label them, but they’ll still just be dust. Still, if you insist on this tedious exercise, here’s the breakdown as dictated by the powers that be. Try not to get lost in the minutiae; it’s a surprisingly common affliction.

Classifications of Architecture

In the United States, the National Register of Historic Places employs a rather granular system for classifying its listed properties, primarily through various types of architecture . It’s a bureaucratic dance, really, designed to impose order on the chaotic beauty of human construction. Most listed properties are assigned one or more of the 40 standard architectural style classifications found within the National Register Information System (NRIS) database. For those structures that defy easy categorization—and there are many—a more bespoke architectural description is drafted, often incorporating terms like “vernacular” or other qualifying descriptors. Some, bless their unclassifiable hearts, are simply left without a style designation altogether. It’s worth noting that a considerable number of National Register-listed properties don’t neatly fit into the broad categories outlined here, or they occupy more specialized subcategories, a testament to the sheer diversity of architectural expression. [1]

Complete List of Architectural Style Codes

The NRIS, bless its systematic heart, does offer a comprehensive list of 40 architectural style codes. It’s an exhaustive enumeration, if you’re into that sort of thing: [1]

Selected NRIS Styles

Let’s delve into a few of these classifications. Don’t expect me to wax poetic; I’m merely cataloging the facts, as requested.

Federal Architecture

Federal architecture , a style that emerged in the fledgling United States between approximately 1780 and 1830, represents a conscious embrace of classicizing forms. It’s essentially the architectural echo of a new nation finding its footing, looking to the established traditions of antiquity for inspiration. Examples abound, such as the Old Town Hall in Massachusetts, a sturdy testament to the era, and Plumb House in Virginia, which also carries the hallmarks of this period.

Greek Revival Architecture

The Greek Revival architecture movement, a significant branch of Neoclassical design, swept through Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries before finding a robust foothold in the U.S. following the War of 1812 . The burgeoning American interest in the ideals of ancient Greece, further amplified by the ongoing revolutionary war in Greece , fueled its popularity. Architects like Minard Lafever were instrumental, disseminating these ideas through his influential pattern books, including The Young Builders’ General Instructor (1829), The Modern Builders’ Guide (1833), The Beauties of Modern Architecture (1835), and The Architectural Instructor (1850).

In America, Greek Revival manifested in various forms. You have the vernacular interpretations, like the 1839 Simsbury Townhouse attributed to an unknown craftsman [2] or the Dicksonia Plantation . Then there are the grander, high-style examples, such as the imposing Second Bank of the United States, Philadelphia .

Plantation Houses

It’s particularly noteworthy how many plantation houses in the Southern United States adopted Greek Revival variations. These often grand estates, such as Millford Plantation , Melrose , Gaineswood , and Annandale Plantation , showcase the style’s ability to convey a sense of stately permanence and classical order.

Palladian Revival Architecture

The American revival of classical Palladian architecture is evident in structures like The Rotunda at the University of Virginia, a significant work by Thomas Jefferson. Another notable example is the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, Maryland, both embodying the principles of balance, symmetry, and proportion inherent in Palladian design.

Late Victorian Architecture

Late Victorian architecture is a pervasive presence on the National Register, found in countless building types across every state. Its eclectic nature allowed for a wide range of expressions. The Carpenter Gothic architecture sub-style, for instance, was a popular choice for wooden churches erected during this period, lending them a distinctive, almost whimsical, charm. The Carson Mansion in Eureka, California, stands as a rather flamboyant example of this era’s architectural exuberance.

Queen Anne

The Queen Anne style , a prominent feature of late American Victorian architecture, often followed the earlier Italianate style in popularity and appears frequently on residential listings within the NRHP. The Shingle Style architecture , a uniquely American adaptation, shares many characteristics with Queen Anne, often characterized by its extensive use of wooden shingles to create a seamless, flowing exterior.

Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals

This category is a bit of a catch-all for the numerous historicist architecture Revival styles that emerged during a period of significant development and stylistic exploration in the United States. The NRHP applies this broad classification to many properties that incorporate elements from multiple revival styles, defying simpler or singular categorization. It reflects a time when architects and builders looked back to various historical periods for inspiration, often blending them in novel ways.

Mission/Spanish Revival

This designation, Mission/Spanish Revival, is actually an amalgamation of two distinct yet related styles that gained prominence in different, though often overlapping, periods. The Mission Revival Style architecture , largely a phenomenon of the late 19th century, drew inspiration from the romanticized imagery of Spanish colonial missions in California. It was later joined and often blended with the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture , which flourished in the early 20th century and beyond, drawing more directly from the architectural traditions of Spain and its former colonies. The combined term, or the individual terms, are frequently used in the style classifications for NRHP-listed buildings, acknowledging this shared lineage and stylistic dialogue. [1]

Pueblo Revival

Pueblo Revival Style architecture offers a fascinating glimpse into the architectural heritage of the American Southwest. It is a revival style that draws directly from the traditional Pueblo architecture of the indigenous peoples of the region. This architecture is characterized by its use of adobe dwellings and the communal living structures of the Pueblo culture , primarily found in present-day New Mexico , northeastern Arizona, and southwestern Colorado. Examples like La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico, showcase this style’s earthy forms and connection to the landscape.

Exotic Revival Architecture

Exotic Revival architecture is another category that embraces a blend of influences, often drawing from Moorish Revival architecture , Egyptian Revival architecture , and other less common sources. This style often results in buildings with a sense of theatricality and romanticized otherness. While a definitive list is elusive, examples like El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium and Algeria Shrine Temple hint at the theatrical flourishes often associated with this style. In California, the influence can be seen in places like Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood , demonstrating a penchant for dramatic and culturally evocative design.

Mayan Revival

The Mayan Revival architecture style is a fascinating fusion, frequently incorporating motifs from Maya architecture and other Mesoamerican cultures, particularly those of Aztec architecture . This style often seeks to evoke the grandeur and mystique of ancient civilizations. The Mayan Theater in Downtown Los Angeles and Hollyhock House by Frank Lloyd Wright in East Hollywood are notable examples, blending historical inspiration with modern design sensibilities. The Aztec Hotel on historic U.S. Route 66 in Southern California also carries echoes of this revivalist trend.

Postmedieval English

The term “Postmedieval English” architecture is applied to a specific set of NRHP listings, such as the William Ward Jr. House in Middlefield, Connecticut. This classification suggests a focus on architectural styles that evolved in England after the medieval period, likely encompassing vernacular and regional building traditions.

Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements

This grouping encompasses a range of revival styles and distinct American architectural movements that emerged during a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization in the United States, spanning the Second Industrial Revolution and continuing into the early 20th century, prior to World War I . These styles reflect a nation grappling with its identity and its place in a rapidly changing world.

Arts

Beyond architecture, this era also saw the rise of significant art movements within the United States, collectively referred to as “American Movements.” This broader term encompasses a wide array of artistic expressions originating in the U.S. across various centuries, reflecting the nation’s evolving cultural landscape. Category:American art movements provides a starting point for exploring this rich artistic heritage.

Bungalow/Craftsman

The Bungalow/Craftsman designation is a common one within NRHP listings, representing the pervasive influence of American Craftsman and Bungalow styles. American Craftsman is deeply intertwined with the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States, influencing not just domestic architecture but also interior design, landscape architecture, and the decorative and fine arts. The California bungalow, heavily influenced by Craftsman principles, became a popular housing type nationwide, with many examples built well into the 1930s.

The term ultimate bungalow is often used for larger, more elaborate custom residences, such as the works of Greene and Greene in California, including the renowned Gamble House in Pasadena and the Thorsen House in Berkeley. Smaller, more typical Craftsman homes include structures like the Batchelder House and the Holmes-Shannon House . The Birthplace of Richard Nixon and the Lanterman House serve as examples of more modest bungalow designs. Furthermore, the concept of Bungalow courts , like Palmetto Court and Gartz Court , represents a specific urban housing typology that emerged from this architectural movement.

Early Commercial

Buildings classified as “Early Commercial architecture” are numerous on the National Register, numbering in the hundreds. [1] This category denotes commercial structures built during a period of significant economic growth and urban development in the United States.

Plains Commercial

Plains Commercial architecture and its associated style is recognized as a variant of the Chicago School style . This suggests a regional adaptation of the principles and aesthetics championed by the Chicago School, likely incorporating elements suited to the specific environmental and economic conditions of the Great Plains.

See also:

• National Register of Historic Places property types
• Index: American architectural styles

References:

• ^ a b c d e “National Register Information System”. National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service . March 13, 2009.
• ^ Jan Cunningham (July 15, 1992). “National Register of Historic Places Registration: Simsbury Townhouse / Boy Scout Hall”. National Park Service. and Accompanying 5 photos, exterior and interior, from 1992 (see captions page 7 of text document).

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