Architectural Tour

(1800-1830)
Many of Lynchburg’s earliest significant structures were designed in the Federal style which was popular in the first part of the 19th century. The majority of Federal houses have two stories with gable roofs and are constructed of brick. Their facades always contain symmetrically placed openings. Windows have small panes and are often capped with a flat brick arch. The doorway may be contained in an arched opening and usually has a small classical portico with columns surrounding it. The cornice is also classically inspired and may contain modillion or dentil blocks.

(1830-1860)
The Greek Revival style differs from Federal architecture in several ways: the roof is usually hipped instead of gabled; the openings are wider and often have sidelights; and the lintels above the windows frequently have raised corner blocks. Porch supports are classical columns or rectangular in design. Like the Federal style, the openings are always symmetrical and the entrance is usually centered within the façade.

(1850-1880)
The Gothic Revival was a rebirth of a medieval style which represented a romantic reaction to the formal designs of the Federal and Greek Revival periods. It is characterized by the pointed arch, steeply pitched gable roofs, and frequently an irregular floor plan. Chimneys are tall and can be capped with pots. The eaves of the roofs are usually decorated with bargeboards and finials and the entire effect is more vertical than earlier periods.

(1850-1880)
The Italianate style also dates from the romantic Victorian era and it can be identified by the large brackets under widely overhanging eaves and a shallow pitched roof. The windows are often arched or segmental in their design and may be capped with decorative hood molds. The structure usually consists of well-defined sections that are asymmetrically grouped, sometimes with a tower on the more elaborate examples.

(1880-1910)
The Queen Anne style was very popular during the Victorian era. It has many variations but is usually associated with a complex, irregularly shaped steep roof and a variety of surface materials such as shingles, wood siding, brick, and stone. Towers and turrets are often present as well as bay windows and large one story front and side porches.

(1900-1930)
The Colonial Revival style is based on the earlier Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival periods. It has a rectangular plan and a symmetrical façade. The roof may be a gable or more often a hipped design. The details are always classical and porticoes over entrances are common. Like earlier periods, the windows have small panes, but their proportions are often more horizontal; and the first floor may contain paired or triple windows. Doorways can have various elements including sidelights, fanlights, pediments, and columns or pilasters.

(1890-1920)
The Square Hipped style, a simplified variation of the Colonial Revival, is identified by its square shape and by its hipped roof. It is usually two stories with a full width one story porch. Often, the front of the hipped roof has a prominent dormer window. Other openings may or may not be symmetrical between floors. More elaborate examples may have classical details such as columns for porch supports and modillion blocks in the cornice.

(1870-1920)
By far the most dominant style of residential dwellings in Lynchburg’s historic districts is the Frame Vernacular, also known as Folk Victorian style. Additionally, terms sometimes used to describe this style include Victorian Vernacular, Stick, and Eastlake Victorian. These simple dwellings are modest in scale and lack elaborate decoration, but may contain spindlework porch details. Three variations of this style are: the “L” gable which reflects the shape of the floor plan and of the roof; the two story gable roof form; and the pyramidal cottage with its hipped roof.