Oldest Colonial Buildings in the US and Their Architectural Styles
1. Palace of the GovernorsSanta Fe, NM 1600Spanish colonial Oldest colonial building in US Built by Native Americans in the area Combination of Spanish and Native American styles Wooden columns in front of typical adobe front
2. San EstevanAcoma, NM1650Spanish Colonial Greatest example of Spanish colonial Part of Acoma Pueblo village, on 400 ft high plateau Settled far before Spanish came, taken over by Coronado In isolated area, difficult for builiding Stone core with adobe over top, walls 9 ft thick Two towers show European influence Symbol of Spanish rule
3. Castillo de San MarcosSt. Augustine, FL1700Spanish Colonial Native Americans and inmates (motley crew) of builders Sharp triangular walls Made of Coquina (sea shells & sand compressed) Walls sloped and 25 ft tall and 7 ft thick
4. San Xavier del BacTucson, AZ 1800Spanish Colonial Still intact today Known as white dove of desert Bac = Native American, Xavier = Catholic, combo of two cultures Strong use of geometry Vaulted dome spaces Obvious European influence
5. Bacon’s CastleSurrey County, VA 1650English Colonial 2 story brick 4 rooms, two per floor Very symmetrical Very little exterior decoration Named for Nathanial Bacon Typical set up for houses for the next century or so
6. St. Luke’s ChurchSmithfield, VA 1600English Colonial Similar to small English churches Tower Steep roof Followed Anglican ways Built an easy ride from plantations Multiple similar churches built
7. Parson CapenHouseTopsfield, MA1700English Colonial Typical beam house, clapboard Windows originally diamond shape Very steep roof, made for snow to fall off Jetty (roof over hang) Southward facing entrance b/c it is warmest Low ceilings with exposed beams Lack of room division, no personal space
8. Old Ship Meeting HouseHingham, MA1700English Colonial Rejected typical cruciform shape Square formed with hipped roof One big auditorium No religious ornamentation Belief god could be experienced in any setting Typical Puritan worship setting
9. BYRD“Westover”Charles City County, VA 1700Georgian Rivaled governor's palace Main entrance by river Similar to English country houses Double-pile house with grand entrance hall and stairway
11. PRICEChrist Church(Old North)Boston, MA 1700Georgian Brick with wooden spire Church where lanterns were hung to warn of British invasion Simple interior, two stories (upper for women) Tallest building in Boston for a time
13. HARRISONRedwood LibraryNewport, RI 1750Georgian First library in America Palladio designed a similar structures centuries before (looks back to older pattern books) Wooden clipboard façade make to look like stone The massive temple front is not cohesive with rest of building
14. HAMILTONIndependence HallPhiladelphia, PA 1750Georgian Built as capitol building Very similar to Statehouse in Boston which was smaller scale Similar to Buckingham Palace (would have been seen in book by Campbell) In Palladian style Simple non-ornamented structure Symmetrical and orderly Tower added after initial building campaign
15. “Mount Pleasant” Philadelphia, PA 1750Georgian Two full stories plus attic Geometric, Palladian windows Logical proportions for building Flanked with dependencies
16. McBEANSt. Paul’s ChapelNew York, NY1750Georgian Oldest church still standing in NYC Done by “amateur architect” Student of James Gibbs
17. BLODGETFirst Bank of the U.S.Philadelphia, PA 1800Federal Classical grandeur Based on engraving Imitation of ancient Roman architectural forms Portico similar to La Madeline in Paris about 30 yrs later
18. BULFINCHHarrison Gray Otis House Boston, MA1800 Federal Based on William Bingham house Façade dominated by neoclassical precision and simplicity Clean and crisp lines Use of Palladian window
19. BULFINCH Massachusetts State HouseBoston, MA1800 Federal Based on English neoclassical architecture Red brick highlights golden dome Corinthian columns Palladian influence
20. L’ENFANTPlan for Washington D.C. 1800Federal Placed capitol at center of city President’s house in NW sector Placed on rectangular grid Used grand scale as in Versailles
21. JEFFERSONVirginia State CapitolRichmond 1800Neoclassical First sign of Neoclassical style coming to US Classical portico symbolized democratic, republican and humanistic values for the young country
22. JEFFERSON MonticelloCharlottesville, VA 1800Neoclassical Hexagonal dome on central axis Large porch area that looks back to Rome Love of geometry and reason
23. JEFFERSON Univ. of VA Charlottesville 1800Neoclassical Idea of creating a scheme for the entire university Rejected English models of university Temple front ( with dome, based on Pantheon Arms stretch out from Rotunda, housing dormitories
24. LATROBEBaltimore CathedralBaltimore, MD 1800 Neoclassical 1st Catholic cathedral in US Traditional cruciform, bell towers, and dome Giant dome over takes space making rectangular building feel round La Trobe was revolutionary in his desire to be paid for designing
25. STRICKLANDSecond Bank of the U.S.Philadelphia, PA 1800Greek Revival Designed by contest winner Copied right out of Greece in Pantheon but differs in Tunnel vaulted space Columns only at front and back, not all the way around
26. WALTERGirard College Philadelphia, PA 1850Greek Revival Money for college given by Girard Exact dimensions given in his will Impractical design however, top level bad for learning, very dark due to lack of windows, marble made it echo… Peristyle (columns all the way around) Corinthian capitols Very, very expensive of white marble
27. UPJOHNTrinity ChurchNew York, NY 1850Gothic Revival Place for rich at time to worship Typical set up, side chapels Made of brownstone Inside plaster used to look like stone Gothic yet takes away use of flying buttress
28. A.J. DAVIS LyndhurstTarrytown, NY 1850Gothic Revival Result of two building campaigns Meanders and spread across landscape Earthy color Each room inside a different shape and size Irregular and unpredictable
29. RENWICKSt. Patrick’s CathedralNew York, NY 1850Gothic Revival At time built far from NYC populous Sharp arches and cruciform Typical French Gothic Lack of flying buttress
30. RENWICKSmithsonian Institution (The Castle) Washington D.C. 1850Romanesque Revival Built from money given by British scientist in his will Done in Romanesque style after scandal of Girard college Explored style that had been reserved for Catholic cathedrals
31. AUSTINVictoria MansionPortland, ME 1850Italian Revival Like an Italian villa Square tower serves no purpose but picturesque quality Built of brown stone Ornamental porches decorated Molding on window pediments
32. GAYNOR & BADGERHaughwout StoreNew York, NY1850Cast Iron Architecture In Soho, very common to have cast iron buildings Originally an early version of a department store Material allowed for the tallest buildings people were used to Allowed for bright open buildings with large windows (decorated with elaborate ornamentation) Only five stories all but sign of the future, skyscrapers coming…. Easy to pour iron into mold and weld together Appears stone like
33. WIGHTNational Academy of DesignNew York, NY1850High Victorian Gothic Based on Ducal Palace in Siena Only used for about 30 yrs Torn down in 1901 Most High Victorian Goth buildings demolished
34. WARE & VAN BRUNTHarvard University Memorial HallCambridge, MA1870 High Victorian Gothic High Victorian Gothic Built to honor those who died in Civil War Very colorful: marble, wood, sandstone, granite (available due to train travel) Interior appears like Hogwarts Very ornamental Mix of styles from multiple countries
35. MULLETT Old Executive Office BuildingWashington D.C.1870Second Empire Style Similarities to Louvre additions called Second Empire Movement Prestige and affluence Multi-story, little columns on each story Second Empire style disliked and most buildings torn down
36. McARTHURCity HallPhiladelphia, PA1870 Second Empire Style By the time building finished style was strongly disliked Desire to demolish was fought due to expense Cast iron relief sculptures
