House Tours

Victorian Architecture

Victorian architecture refers to several styles developed during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901).

Everyone has seen them - those huge old historic homes that reflect the genteel days of the Victorian era and invite imaginations of what lies behind stately doors. While imagination is great, it's not always required. Many of these stunning structures in Belvidere will be open during Victorian Days 2018 to the public and will provide glimpses into the past.

A common mental image of a "Victorian" home looks much like a dollhouse with elaborate trim and bright colors. There's a reason Victorian homes have descriptors like "storybook," "gingerbread," and "whimsical" — their otherworldly designs and color palettes evoke a childlike delight. But the term "Victorian architecture" actually refers to styles that emerged during the reign of Queen Victoria. The Victorian era spawned several well-known styles, including Gothic revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, stick style, Romanesque style and shingle style. The Victorian styles evolved largely from the imposing, elaborate Gothic style, which appealed to the romantic Victorian idea that fashion, architecture and furnishings should be beautiful rather than practical. A wealthy Victorian woman's clothing, for example, involved corsets, hoop skirts and dresses that used yards of fabric. It made sense for the trendy home designs to reflect that excess as well.

Architects took the ideas of Gothic architecture and added French, Italian, Tudor and even Egyptian details. Designers were free to combine the styles to create several different well-known styles -- and combine the styles as they saw fit. As a result, there are few Victorian homes that look the same.

Ideas from the Gothic style may have started the Victorian styles, but a kick from the Industrial Revolution nationalized the trend. Steam-powered sawmills could create elaborate materials cheaper and faster. As a result, late Victorian homes became increasingly ornate. Even lower-income families could afford trim and patterns to turn their existing homes into "folk Victorians."

The Queen Anne style came into fashion in the 1880s, at the height of the mass-production of architectural trim. These elaborate, brightly colored homes are the image most people think of when they picture a Victorian home.

As the Arts and Crafts Movement began to hit America, critics accused the Victorians of needless complexity and clutter, advocating a more streamlined, handcrafted home. The style fell out of fashion, but is still very prevalent in historic communities around the country.