The Greek Revival style was the second of America’s architectural revivals, following on the heels of the Roman revival popularized by Thomas Jefferson in his own architectural designs for the Virginia State Capital, Monticello, and the University of Virginia. The buildings of Greece had become widely known in the later 18th century following the publication of archaeological surveys, the most influential being James Stuart and Nicolas Revett’s The Antiquities of Athens published in 1762. In the early 19th century, a growing belief in the supremacy of the Greek orders provoked architects to copy them slavishly, particularly on public buildings. The stark, monumental form of the Greek temple implicitly linked the politics of America with the democratic ideals of ancient Greece. Elements of the style were then used decoratively in domestic buildings up until the 1860s.

Form: Highly variable, but typically a formal 1-2 story house with full-height columns supporting a front pediment. Heavy entablature and cornices. Generally symmetrical façade, but entry may be to one side. The temple variant will have lower wings to each side. Vernacular versions are often a simple, gable-front or gable-front-and wings composition with applied Greek Revival features on the façade.

Stylistic Detail: Classical Greek Orders with Ionic and occasionally Doric columns or pilasters and entablature. Columns may be square. Paneled doors, sometimes recessed, can have elaborate frames and trim with rectangular sidelights and transoms. Large double-or triple-hung windows. Houses were nearly always painted white.

Construction: Variable, although not particularly innovative. Structure was commonly of timber frame, or less frequently, masonry. Classical columns were sometimes of brick, plastered.

Examples on Staten Island:
Sailor’s Snug Harbor 1000 Richmond Terrace
The Pavilion 80 Richmond Terrace

Gallery of examples (click on thumbnails):