Guide to Colonial American House Styles, 1600 - 1800

The pilgrims weren't the only people to settle in what we now call Colonial America. Between 1600 and 1800, men and women poured in from many parts of the world, including Germany, France, Spain, and Latin America. Each group brought their own cultures and architectural traditions. New homes in the New World were as diverse as the incoming population.
Using locally available materials, the colonists built what they could and tried to meet the challenges posed by the climate and landscape of the new country. They constructed the types of homes they remembered, but they also innovated and, at times, learned new building techniques from Native Americans. As the country grew, these early settlers developed not one, but many, uniquely American styles.
Centuries later, builders borrowed ideas from early American architecture to create Colonial Revival and Neo-colonial styles. So, even if your house is brand new, it may express the spirit of the America's colonial days. Look for features of these early American house styles:

Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, Connecticut, circa 1720. Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, Connecticut, circa 1720. Photo ©Staib via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Dutch Colonial

1625 - mid-1800s
Like the German colonists, Dutch settlers brought building traditions from their home country. Settling mainly in New York State, they built brick and stone houses with rooflines that echoed the architecture of the Netherlands. You can recognize the Dutch Colonial style by the gambrel roof. Dutch Colonial became a popular revival style, and you'll often see 20th century homes with the characteristic rounded roof. More »

Historic Cape Cod house in Sandwich, New Hampshire. Historic Cape Cod house in Sandwich, New Hampshire. Photo @ Jackie Craven