Mankato is home to a very rich history as well as some beautiful architecture. As I stated earlier, the Queen Anne style particularly caught my attention. Queen Anne became a fashion in architecture in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Italianate style was falling out of style due to the newer Queen Anne’s as well as the Picturesque movement (http://www.eastrow.org/queenanne.html). This was a time of change, the industrial revolution, the “Guilded Age”. With all the new technology and transcontinental railroad system architectural pieces were easily moved about the country. Since many were coming into money at this time in history, Queen Anne architecture was there to help them show off their wealth and status. It is a very predominant style in places that experienced increased wealth in the early 1900’s (http://www.architecture.about.com). Queen Anne style was formally introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Exposition in Philadelphia. However, The Watts Sherman House was the first Queen Anne style building built in America. It is located in Newport, Rhode Island. Built by H. H. Richardson, a big name architect from Buffalo, in 1874, it includes a gabled roof, half timbered second story and an open living room, all characteristics of the American Queen Anne style (http://www.encarta.msn.com). Though named Queen Anne, this style has basically nothing to do with Queen Anne. Instead it was popular during the reign of Queen Victoria. Architects from England combined their ideas with those from the earlier Medieval era. Of all the Victorian home styles, Queen Anne is the most widely recognized as well as the most elaborate and eccentric (http://www..architecture.about.com). 
    So, how does one recognize a Queen Anne?  Authors Virginia and Lee
McAlester, who wrote A Field Guide to American Houses, identified four types of detailing often found on Queen Anne homes.  The first one is spindled, which refers to the turned porch posts and ornamental spindles.  The second is free classic. As opposed to spindles, these homes have classical columns.  Another is half-timbered. Like Tudor homes, these Queen Anne’s have decorative half timbering in the gables.  The final characteristic they identify is patterned masonry.  These have brick, stone or terra cotta walls and few details in the beautifully patterned wood.  Along with these are the witch’s capped tower, as seen on many of the homes in Mankato, front facing gables and patterned shingles, also known as fish scales.  Each of these components, right down to the chimney are spectacularly crafted.  Also, many of the foundations of Queen Anne homes are made of limestone. This is of particular interest here in Mankato. Kasota stone, a type of limestone, is found here in Mankato, and most of the older homes have foundations made of it.  You can tell what neighborhood you are in by looking at the home’s foundations. Homes in the Silk Stocking District have a foundation with nicely cut stone, whereas in the working class district, the stone has a much more rough texture. As far as color goes, Queen Anne’s were painted in what we would call “earth tones” today.  However, as with many things, this color scheme did not stick.  In the generations following, many were repainted to all white.  This is a characteristic of homes before the Civil War.  Then, during the “Colorist” movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s, people began to paint their homes with the rich Victorian colors once again. All this makes a Queen Anne building easy to find, however, defining them is another thing. Because there are all so different, a definition is almost impossible. Gingerbread, another term for decoration, adorns some, while others are made out of simple brick and stone. The typical Queen Anne home is overall asymmetrical and the roof is steeply pitched and irregular. Add in a few of the characteristics mentioned above and you’ve got your Queen Anne.  A close relative of the Queen Anne home is the Queen Anne Farmhouse. It has the same form as a traditional farm house, but with the exterior elements of a Queen Anne. However, the woodwork is not as elaborate. 
    Mankato is filled with many beautiful examples of Queen Anne style
architecture and learning more about this particular style of Victorian

architecture gave me a new appreciation for it.

Kara Boland

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