The Gothic architectural style also had another milestone to overcome, in order to grow in the United States. Most Americans during this time were also particularly conservative when it came to architectural designs. Hence when Gothic revival was attempting to gain a foothold in the United States, its architecture style was unwanted because it was not simple and symmetrical. The builders and owners wanted this “clean look” for their buildings because symmetry was fundamentally important in architecture. Buildings, especially governmental, or religious were built in usually Roman or Greek architectural styles because both styles could be built symmetrically, and Gothic seemed haphazard and over-done, it did not seem as though it could permit symmetry in its style#. The Southern United States favored classical symmetrical styles as well as the Northerners. The Southern plantation houses, usually with one or two verandas, had a certain ambiance of greatness, and ignorance about them, like many of the owners#. With the stubbornness of both the Northern and Southern United states, it is surprising that the Gothic style eventually flourished, but conversely, there were factors that helped the growth of gothic architecture. In the late 1700’s, American architecture finally and truly began to revolutionize.

Gothic architecture had always been considered a style mainly for ecclesiastical structures; however, it also became popular to build houses in the same style. The Industrial Revolution created greater economic prospects for the growing middle class, and they hence could indulge themselves in creating attractive and stylish homes in the countryside, because they had more money#. Horace Walpole's remodeled “gothick” house on Strawberry Hill was one of the earliest houses done in a Gothic rococo method; it was redone in 1770#. However, it is believed that the first Gothic style houses were not built before the 1830's. From this time on, English Gothic houses, became a great influence on the homes of the United States, those that were already built and those being designed. The "Wedding Cake House" in Kennebunk, Maine is a great example of this. The plain brick house was originally built in 1826 by a local shipbuilder. In 1852, after a fire, and with the Gothic style growing more popular, he added ornate Gothic detailing. The simple brick home was built in the Federal style which can be seen by the paired chimneys and a low, hipped roof, five symmetrical evenly spaced windows on the second story, and its basic square shape. The Gothic “frosting” looks very lacy and includes carved buttresses, spires and spandrels, and seems to be attempting to hide the original simplicity of the house#. Books on creating Gothic styles in one’s home were first introduced by A. J. Davis, an American architect, who used three-dimensional floor plans in his books. Andrew Jackson Downing, on of Davis’s friends, created pattern books and site and landscape plans. He also spoke to the public about the virtues of the style. Soon the public became enthralled with the medieval past and its romantic ideals#.

By 1830, however, architects turned to more archaeological methods instead of just surface “frosting.” Homes began to be built with steeply pitched gabled roofs, tall bunched chimneys, towers, crenellated parapets, finials and crocket ornaments. The front of the houses were s

Some topics in this essay:
Jackson Davis’s, Church Southern, Kennebunk Maine, Catholic Cathedral, Southern United, Greek Roman, Revolution Beginning, Period Eventually, Cathedrals English, Hence Gothic, gothic architecture, gothic architectural, gothic style, gothic architectural style, classical styles, architectural style, gothic styles, gothic revival, roman catholic, catholic church, architectural styles, roman catholic church, greek roman styles, gothic architecture united, st patrick's cathedral,