The Georgetown Metropolitan

Dumbarton Oaks

Please enjoy this rerun of GM’s series on Georgetown architecture:

This week GM is exploring the variety of historic architecture around Georgetown. Today he explores the late Victorian Period. For Georgetown that means primarily two styles: Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque.

First up: Queen Anne. The Queen Anne style was developed in England by a group of architects in the 1860s and 1870s. It was meant to evoke a medieval period of English architecture, although it was a bit of a misnomer since the architecture popular during the real Queen Anne was actually a formal renaissance style.

The Queen Anne style that dominated American homes during the 1880s is characterized by asymmetrical design with a variety of different towers and hipped roofs that form an irregular roof line. Also, the surface materials included a variety of textures such as scale shingles and the homes were often decorated with elaborate spindles and other fanciful woodwork.  Basically, the classic “gingerbread” home that comes to your mind when you think of Victorian homes is probably a Queen Anne. Continue reading →

Photo by Bill Starrels.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Georgetown has approximately 32,000 spas. This is the story about how one of them is dealing with the current challenges.
• For Hoyas who are missing their campus right now.

Dumbarton Oaks

Photo by Barbara Downs.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Lovely piece on social distancing, illness and family by Georgetowner Dan Sallick.
• Safeway’s to add “sneeze guards” to its checkout lanes.

Dumbarton Oaks

This week GM is exploring the varieties of historic architecture in Georgetown and offering a field guide to help you identify each particular style.

Today: Romantic Period

For American architecture, the Romantic period stretched from 1820s to the 1880s representing the last years of the Federal Period through to the middle stages of the Victorian Era. In Georgetown the two most common Romantic Period styles are Greek Revival and Italianate.

First up: Greek Revival.

Greek Revival style homes were the dominant style across the U.S. from 1830s to 1850s. So much so that it is also called the “National Style”.  Whereas Roman designs influenced the Federal period, increasingly intellectuals looked to Greece as the more appropriate model for the young democracy. Continue reading →

Photo by Olaf Zerbock.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• ANC Commissioners call on city to provide more resources for residents to fight Covid-19.
• The Mayor is expected to order the closure of non-essential businesses.

Dumbarton Oaks Park