| Historians traditionally have studied American culture relying on manuscripts, oral tradition, mass media, periodicals, and literature as major source materials. Yet they seldom delve into the realm of analyzing material culture. Conversely, architectural historians focus on structures but generally do not address the broad themes of American history. The present study is an interdisciplinary interpretation of western history using buildings as the principal source. More precisely, this inquiry focuses on the development and spread of Greek Revival architecture, from its roots in the East through the Midwest and South to Oregon.;Greek Revival architecture was the first design mode to spread from coast to coast. From the masterpieces of professional architects to the vernacular structures in the Midwest and Oregon there were many manifestations of classical buildings. As the style spread, two themes became apparent. First, although structural formats, building materials, and design sophistication changed, there was a sense of stylistic continuty--from east to west. Second, classical architecture generally was in vogue in areas experiencing economic prosperity. For example, in Oregon many pioneers built classical houses after they benefitted from the California gold rush.;Although many settlers had enough money to build any style residence, they selected the classical mode. In short, when Oregon pioneers built their new dwellings, they did not attempt to blend these structures into the geographical surroundings. Instead, they borrowed designs that they remembered and liked from their earlier home areas.;The national scope of this study has been facilitated by the Historic American Building Survey and the National Register of Historic Places. These comprehensive inventories document and include structures from all states and territories with descriptions, photographs, and, in some cases, line drawings of the various buildings. These data as well as copies of nineteenth-century carpenters' handbooks, letters from architects, and pioneer diaries offer rich source material. |
