Queen Anne – popular 1880-1910

Murray-Lanpher House, 1886, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Photo: Murray-Lanpher House, ca. 1886, Saint Paul, Minnesota, Located in the Irvine Park Historic District. Photographed by user: Elkman (own work), 2007, [creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en] via Wikimedia Commons, accessed April, 2013.

The Queen Anne style was introduced to America at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; however, it is not derived from the Renaissance architecture that was popular during the English Queen's 18th century reign. The style was named and associated by English architects led by Richard Norman Shaw. It was H. H. Richardson who was most interested in Shaw's work and influenced American architectural interpretations.

As the Industrial Revolution flourished with new technologies and the expanding railroad transportation network, the elaborate Queen Anne style became quite popular. Factories were mass-producing an array of building materials including the lavish fringe and wooden millwork.

The Queen Anne was asymmetrical in shape with large porches and wide verandahs, usually one-story high and wrapping around one ore two side walls extending the house to include outdoor living space. Porch skirts were sometimes made from latticework or wood slats with cutout designs. Second story recessed porches were sometimes placed in gables or towers. Towers were round, square or polygonal and most often situated at one front corner. Wooden exteriors were often painted using a variety of "earth" colors in greens, reds, and brown to accentuate the different textures and trims. The Queen Anne style row homes commonly had stone stoops.

Irregular roof lines with steeply pitched gables often showcased a prominent front-facing gable. Flared chimney tops, weather vanes, and pinnacles were additional elements. Windows were typically double-hung sash. Cut-away bay windows were sometimes one-over-one with the upper panel including small square or artistically shaped panes. Projecting oriels, dropped pendants, and patterned wood shingles were added details. Doors with a single glass pane were common.

The Queen Anne style is commonly divided into four types:

The Spindled type used an abundance of wood enhancements and decoration incorporating elaborate motifs and "gingerbread" ornamentation using spindles, brackets, and curlicue cutouts.

The Free Classic is recognizable by the Classic columns which were sometimes grouped in two or threes on masonry piers. Dentil molding and Palladian windows were other features of the Free Classic type.

The Half-Timbered type was more common in the northeastern states. The main identifying characteristic is the half-timbering found on upper story wall exteriors and in the gables. Another common feature was window groups.

The Patterned Masonry showcased texture-rich designs made of various patterns of brick courses or various colors of brick, terra cotta or plaster. There were few wooden embellishments.

Some locations where you're likely to find Queen Anne style homes:

1855 Extension Historic District, c. , (Historic), Horseheads Village, Chemung County NY
Academy Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Greensburg City, Westmoreland County PA
Academy Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Stroudsburg Boro, Monroe County PA
Allison Hill, c. 1895, (Historic), Harrisburg City, Dauphin County PA
Annville Historic District, c. 1764, (Historic), Annville Twp, Lebanon County PA
Arthur-Leonard Historic District, c. , (Historic), Liberty City, Clay County MO
Asylum Hill, c. , (Historic), Hartford City, Hartford County CT
Athens Historic District, c. 1786, (Historic), Athens Boro, Bradford County PA
Awbury Historic District, c. 1860, (Historic), Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County PA
Ballentine Place Historic District, c. 1909, (Historic), Norfolk City, Independent Cities VA
Barton Heights, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Beauregard Town, c. 1915, (Historic), Baton Rouge City, East Baton Rouge Parish LA
Beaver Historic District, c. , (Historic), Beaver Boro, Beaver County PA
Berkeley Square, c. 1910, (Historic), Trenton City, Mercer County NJ
Bloomsburg Historic District, c. , (Historic), Bloomsburg Town, Columbia County PA
Boylan Heights, c. , (Historic), Raleigh City, Wake County NC
Brewerytown, c. , (Historic), Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County PA
Bridgewater Historic District, c. 1818, (Historic), Bridgewater Boro, Beaver County PA
Broad Avenue Historic District, c. 1910, (Historic), Altoona City, Blair County PA
Brookville Historic District, c. 1830, (Historic), Brookville Boro, Jefferson County PA
Cambridge Historic District, c. , (Historic), Cambridge Village, Washington County NY
Carver Residential Historic District, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Cassill Place Historic District, c. , (Historic), Carthage City, Jasper County MO
Catasauqua Residential Historic District, c. , (Historic), Catasauqua Boro, Lehigh County PA
Center Square-Hudson Park, c. , (Historic), Albany City, Albany County NY
Central Historic District, c. , (Historic), Norristown Boro, Montgomery County PA
Central Troy Historic District, c. , (Historic), Troy City, Rensselaer County NY
Chambersburg Historic District, c. , (Historic), Chambersburg Boro, Franklin County PA
Chestnut Hill, c. , (Historic), Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County PA
Chestnut Hill-Plateau Historic District, c. 1910, (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Church Hill North, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Claverack Hamlet, c. , (Historic), Claverack Town, Columbia County NY
Clinton Avenue Historic District, c. , (Historic), Albany City, Albany County NY
Coalport Historic District, c. 1875, (Historic), Coalport Boro, Clearfield County PA
Columbia Historic District, c. , (Historic), Columbia Boro, Lancaster County PA
Daniels Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Lynchburg_City, Independent Cities VA
Danville Historic District, c. , (Historic), Danville Boro, Montour County PA
Dawson Historic District, c. 1890, (Historic), Dawson Boro, Fayette County PA
Delanson Historic District, c. , (Historic), Delanson Village, Schenectady County NY
Delta Historic District, c. 1853, (Historic), Delta Boro, York County PA
Dougherty-Prospect Heights Historic District, c. , (Historic), Liberty City, Clay County MO
Dryden Historic District, c. , (Historic), Dryden Village, Tompkins County NY
DuBois Historic District, c. , (Historic), DuBois City, Clearfield County PA
East Lancaster Avenue Historic District, c. , (Historic), Downingtown Boro, Chester County PA
East Side Historic District, c. , (Historic), Catskill Village, Greene County NY
East Side Historic District, c. 1885, (Historic), Joliet City, Will County IL
Eldridge Avenue Historic District, c. , (Historic), Bellingham City, Whatcom County WA
Elmwood Historic District, c. , (Historic), Providence City, Providence County RI
Elmwood Park Historic District, c. 1910, (Historic), Columbia City, Richland County SC
Emlenton Historic District, c. , (Historic), Emlenton Boro, Venango County PA
Everett Historic District, c. 1795, (Historic), Everett Boro, Bedford County PA
Fairmount Historic District, c. , (Historic), York City, York County PA
Federal Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Lynchburg City, Independent Cities VA
Fifeville-Castle Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Charlottesville City, Independent Cities VA
Fordhook Farm, c. , (Historic), Doylestown Twp, Bucks County PA
Forest Park Southeast District, c. , (Historic), St Louis City, Independent Cities MO
Fountain Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Bethlehem City, Northampton County PA
Franklin Historic District, c. 1870, (Historic), Franklin City, Venango County PA
Front Royal Historic District, c. , (Historic), Front Royal Town, Warren County VA
Gansevoort-East Steuben Streets Historic District, c. , (Historic), Bath Village, Steuben County NY
General Electric Realty Plot, c. 1899, (Singles), Schenectady City, Schenectady County NY
Goldsboro Historic District, c. , (Historic), Goldsboro Boro, York County PA
Greenwich Historic District, c. , (Historic), Greenwich Village, Washington County NY
Hampton-Pinckney Historic District, c. 1905, (Historic), Greenville City, Greenville County SC
Hanover Historic District, c. , (Historic), Hanover Boro, York County PA
Henry Albertson Historic District, c. 1905, (Historic), Lansdowne Boro, Delaware County PA
Hermitage Road Historic District, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Hickory Street District, c. , (Historic), St Louis City, Independent Cities MO
Highland Park Plaza, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Holly Lawn, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Honesdale Residential Historic District, c. , (Historic), Honesdale Boro, Wayne County PA
Hudson Falls Historic District, c. , (Historic), Hudson Falls Village, Washington County NY
Hudson Historic District, c. , (Historic), Hudson City, Columbia County NY
Ivyland Historic District, c. , (Historic), Ivyland Boro, Bucks County PA
Jewell-Lightburne Historic District, c. , (Historic), Liberty City, Clay County MO
Lansdowne Park, c. 1890, (Historic), Lansdowne Boro, Delaware County PA
Lewisburg Historic District, c. , (Historic), Lewisburg Boro, Union County PA
Liberty Street Historic District, c. , (Historic), Bath Village, Steuben County NY
Llyswen, c. 1894, (Historic), Altoona City, Blair County PA
Louis Menand House, c. , (Historic), Colonie Town, Albany County NY
Manchester Historic District, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Martin Luther King Jr Historic District, c. , (Historic), Atlanta City, Fulton County GA
McConnellsburg Historic District, c. , (Historic), McConnellsburg Boro, Fulton County PA
Milford Historic District, c. , (Historic), Milford Boro, Pike County PA
Millionaires Row Historic District, c. 1885, (Historic), Williamsport City, Lycoming County PA
Milton Historic District, c. , (Historic), Milton Boro, Northumberland County PA
Monument Avenue Historic District, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Mount Pleasant Historic District, c. , (Historic), Harrisburg City, Dauphin County PA
Mount Pleasant Historic District, c. , (Historic), Mount Pleasant Boro, Westmoreland County PA
Mount Union Historic District, c. , (Historic), Mount Union Boro, Huntingdon County PA
Muncy Historic District, c. , (Historic), Muncy Boro, Lycoming County PA
Newport Historic District, c. , (Historic), Newport Boro, Perry County PA
Ninth Street Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Lafayette City, Tippecanoe County IN
North East Historic District, c. , (Historic), North East Boro, Erie County PA
North Hill Historic District, c. 1890, (Historic), New Castle City, Lawrence County PA
North Wayne Historic District, c. 1881, (Historic), Radnor Twp, Delaware County PA
Northumberland Historic District, c. 1829, (Historic), Northumberland Boro, Northumberland County PA
Northwest York Historic District, c. , (Historic), York City, York County PA
Old Shandon Historic District, c. , (Historic), Columbia City, Richland County SC
Overbrook Farms, c. , (Historic), Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County PA
Patton Historic District, c. , (Historic), Patton Boro, Cambria County PA
Penns Park, c. 1832, (Historic), Wrightstown Twp, Bucks County PA
Perrin Historic District, c. , (Historic), Lafayette City, Tippecanoe County IN
Pettigru Street Historic District, c. 1910, (Historic), Greenville City, Greenville County SC
Philippi Historic District, c. , (Historic), Philippi City, Barbour County WV
Portage Historic District, c. , (Historic), Portage Boro, Cambria County PA
Queen Anne Historic District, c. , (Historic), Reading City, Berks County PA
Railroad Borough Historic District, c. , (Historic), Railroad Boro, York County PA
Raymond Houses, c. 1891, (Historic), Middletown Boro, Dauphin County PA
Rhinebeck Historic MRA, c. , (Historic), Rhinebeck Town, Dutchess County NY
Ridgway Historic District, c. , (Historic), Ridgway Boro, Elk County PA
Ripley Historic District, c. , (Historic), Ripley City, Jackson County WV
River Street Historic District, c. , (Historic), Wilkes-Barre City, Luzerne County PA
Rivermont Historic District, c. , (Historic), Lynchburg City, Independent Cities VA
Riverton Historic District, c. 1869, (Historic), Front Royal Town, Warren County VA
Riverview, c. , (Historic), Norfolk City, Independent Cities VA
Roaring Spring Historic District, c. , (Historic), Roaring Spring Boro, Blair County PA
Robidoux Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), St Joseph City, Buchanan County MO
Romberger-Stover House, c. 1887, (Historic), Berrysburg Boro, Dauphin County PA
Roosevelt Neighborhood, c. 1918, (Historic), Phoenix City, Maricopa County AZ
Rossman-Prospect Avenue Historic District, c. , (Historic), Hudson City, Columbia County NY
Rucker Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Everett_City, Snohomish County WA
Samuel Warden House, c. , (Historic), Mount Pleasant Boro, Westmoreland County PA
Shrewsbury Historic District, c. , (Historic), Shrewsbury Boro, York County PA
Society Hill, c. , (Historic), Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County PA
South Side Historic District, c. , (Historic), Oil City, Venango County PA
South Wayne Historic District, c. , (Historic), Radnor Twp, Delaware County PA
St Marys Historic District, c. 1870, (Historic), Lafayette City, Tippecanoe County IN
Stouchsburg Historic District, c. , (Historic), Marion Twp, Berks County PA
Stoystown Historic District, c. , (Historic), Stoystown Boro, Somerset County PA
Sunbury Historic District, c. 1772, (Historic), Sunbury_City, Northumberland County PA
Tamaqua Historic District, c. 1831, (Historic), Tamaqua Boro, Schuylkill County PA
Thornburg Historic District, c. , (Historic), Thornburg Boro, Allegheny County PA
Titusville Historic District, c. , (Historic), Titusville City, Crawford County PA
Tunkhannock Historic District, c. , (Historic), Tunkhannock Boro, Wyoming County PA
Union City Historic District, c. , (Historic), Union City Boro, Erie County PA
Union Hill Historic District, c. , (Historic), Richmond City, Independent Cities VA
Union Street Historic District, c. , (Historic), Schenectady City, Schenectady County NY
Upper Bluff Historic District, c. , (Historic), Joliet City, Will County IL
Verbeck House, c. 1889, (Historic), Ballston Spa Village, Saratoga County NY
Virginville Historic District, c. 1850, (Historic), Richmond Twp, Berks County PA
Walnut Street Historic District, c. , (Historic), Springfield City, Greene County MO
Warren Historic District, c. , (Historic), Warren City, Warren County PA
Warwick Village Historic District, c. , (Historic), Warwick Village, Orange County NY
Waynesburg Historic District, c. , (Historic), Waynesburg Boro, Greene County PA
Wellsboro Historic District, c. , (Historic), Wellsboro Boro, Tioga County PA
Wertland Street Historic District, c. , (Historic), Charlottesville City, Independent Cities VA
West 21st Street Historic District, c. , (Historic), Erie City, Erie County PA
West End, c. 1890, (Historic), Providence City, Providence County RI
West End Historic District, c. , (Historic), Norristown Boro, Montgomery County PA
West Sixth Street Historic District, c. , (Historic), Erie City, Erie County PA
Westlawn, c. 1882, (Historic), Nether Providence Twp, Delaware County PA
Westmont Historic District, c. , (Historic), Westmont Boro, Cambria County PA
White Creek Historic District, c. , (Historic), White Creek Town, Washington County NY
Wilderstein, c. , (Historic), Rhinebeck Town, Dutchess County NY
Winona Historic District, c. , (Historic), Norfolk City, Independent Cities VA
Wrightsville Historic District, c. , (Historic), Wrightsville Boro, York County PA
Wycombe, c. 1895, (Historic), Buckingham Twp, Bucks County PA
Wyncote, c. 1940, (Historic), Cheltenham Twp, Montgomery County PA