IDENTIFYING FEATURES: 2 or 3 stories, rarely 1 story; low-pitched roof, widely overhanging eaves; large, decorative brackets beneath eaves; tall, narrow windows (most often on commercial buildings), commonly arched or curved above; some with square cupola or tower (campanile), elaborate wrap-around porch (or smaller entry porch) with decorative Italianate double columns and other details.

BACKGROUND AND INSPIRATION: Dominated American houses between 1850-1880. Common in expanding towns and cities in Midwest, and still-growing older cities in Northeast. Least common in the South. Very common in San Francisco. Style began in England as part of the picturesque (Romantic) movement: a reaction to formal classical ideas. Emphasized rambling, Italian farmhouses. In U.S., houses followed the informal, rural models of picturesque movement. Modified for use as typical "main street" commercial architecture in Midwest. Popularized by Andrew Jackson Downing, 1840s, 1850s, with Gothic Revival. By 1860s, Italianate overshadowed Gothic Revival as most popular style.

PHOTO LOCATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS (based on info available)

1. Upstate New York. Identifying features include the low-pitched roof, widely overhanging eaves with decorative brackets, and square cupola on the top.
2. Scantic, CT. c.1849. Square-shaped massing with low-pitched roof, overhanging eaves, and brackets. Seems to be a "transition" house, given the Greek Revival entryway.
3. Galena, IL. Railway depot. Round-arched windows, twin cupolas, low-pitched roof with brackets.
4. Urbana, IL. Row of Italianate commercial buildings, c.1870s. Overhanging eaves (cornice) with brackets, tall-arched windows.
5. Las Vegas, NM. Italianate commercial building with elaborate cornice and tall windows with arched pediments.
6. Bellefonte, PA. Elaborate Italianate house with low-pitched roof with overhanging eaves and brackets, tall-arched windows, and "boxy" floor plan.
7. Madison, IN. Simplified Italianate commercial row with tall, pedimented windows and elaborate cornices.
8. Los Angeles, CA. Italianate house on Carroll Street
9. Hannibal, MO. Entire row of Italianate commercial buildings with varying amounts of ornamentation.
10. Jerseyville, IL. Currently a Bed & Breakfast.
11. Somewhere in upstate New York.
12. Somewhere in upstate New York.
13. Galena, IL. DeSoto House Hotel, originally had two additional floors.
14. Santa Fe, NM. On the Plaza, these Italianate commercial buildings represent the first dominant wave of Anglo-American influence after the 1860s and the coming of the railroad.
15. Union, CT.
16. Woodstock, CT. Woodstock Academy building, c.1876.
17. Tolland, CT. Perhaps an earlier Georgian-style house with an "updated" Italianate roofline. Not sure. This just doesn't look original, though everything above the second floor is definitely Italianate style.
18. Windham, CT. c.1850. Excellent small example of Italian Villa style, with its characteristic square tower, or campanile.
19. Branford, CT. Low pitched roof, overhanging eaves, two stories.
20. Branford, CT. Low pitched roof, overhanging eaves, two stories, Italianate porch.
21. Kansas City, MO.
22. Las Vegas, NM.
23. Las Vegas, NM., Hotel on the old Spanish plaza.
24. Stafford, CT.
25. St. Louis, MO. Railroad Hotel.
26. Savannah, GA.
27. Savannah, GA.
28. Savannah, GA. c.1884, rowhouse with bay windows.
29. Savannah, GA.
30. Savannah, GA. c.1860. The Mercer House, designed by John S. Norris. This is THE Mercer House, featured in John Berendt's best-selling book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and featured in the followup movie
31. Durango, CO. Main Street
32. Silverton, CO.
33. San Francisco
34. Durango, CO. Main Street.