Carpenter Gothic architecture rose to prominence in the United States during the mid-nineteenth century. Carpenter Gothic houses can be found in many parts of the country, and some of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, indicating their cultural significance. Outside of the United States, homes in the Carpenter Gothic style can be found, particularly in New Zealand and Australia, though they are more commonly referred to as “Gothic Revival” homes.
The Gothic Revival movement began in the 1700s, when architects began to experiment with medieval architectural themes. Alexander Jackson Davis, who published a number of collections of Carpenter Gothic house plans in the United States, popularized the Carpenter Gothic architecture genre in the United States. One of the selling points of this architectural style, he said, is that it can be used to create homes for people of all economic classes, ranging from opulent confections for the wealthy to more austere homes for the poor.
Carpenter Gothic architecture can be distinguished a number of characteristics. The first is that this style is typically limited to homes and churches, with wooden structures. Deep gables, towers, wraparound porches, pointed arched windows like those found in cathedrals, and an abundance of wooden scrollwork details are all features of a typical Carpenter Gothic structure. Carpenter Gothic architecture frequently features board and batten siding, though this is not required.
The iconic painting American Gothic depicts one famous example of Carpenter Gothic architecture, illustrating the more plain end of the spectrum but clearly displaying the style’s peaked windows and steep gables. Carpenter Gothic architecture is also known as Rural Gothic, despite the fact that many Carpenter Gothic structures can be found in more settled areas.
The scroll saw, which allowed lumber companies to mass-produce scrolled woodwork, was one of the reasons Carpenter Gothic Architecture took off. This woodwork would have been carved hand at great expense prior to the development of steam-powered saws; mass-produced scrollwork made it possible to add decorative trim in lavish amounts to all types of homes. Indoors, turned woodwork appeared on pillars, trim, and supporting beams, transforming structures into works of art as well as functional structures.