Federal Style Architecture
1780–1820
Federal style architecture was popular in the years following the American Revolution as the new nation got organized and began to expand into new territories across the country. Federal style is also known as “Adamesque” for the influence of Robert and James Adam who had a prominent architecture practice in England and Scotland from 1760 to 1780. In America, the Adamesque style used less complicated ornamentation and decoration than European counterparts.
George Washington was an early adopter of the Federal style at Mount Vernon, enlarged and redecorated in 1777 from the original farmhouse built by his father in 1735. As Pattern Books from England became available in the Unites States, the style was often used in new towns built after the Revolution.
Federal Style Buildings
Based on Neo-classical forms of architecture
Federal Style Entry Doors
Round fanlights, keystones, fluted Tuscan columns
Federal Style Fireplace
Often plain architrave or simple applied ornaments, fluted columns and corner blocks.
