Steamboat Gothic architecture is a highly ornate architectural style that originated in the American South. Steamboat Gothic architecture is characterized being so heavily ornamented that it appears almost ludicrous. If you’ve ever seen an extremely large home covered from head to toe in elaborate carved woodwork, you’ve probably seen an example of this style; this style is characterized being so heavily ornamented that it appears almost ludicrous.
Carpenter Gothic architecture, another style of architecture that originated in the United States, is closely related to this architectural style. Carpenter Gothic arose from the Gothic Revival movement, which took advantage of the United States’ abundant timber resources; both Carpenter and Steamboat Gothic homes are distinguished their use of wood rather than other building materials.
It’s difficult to confuse the two styles, especially after seeing examples of each. Along the Mississippi River’s banks, riverboat captains paid for lavish homes designed to resemble the elaborately decorated steamboats of the mid-nineteenth century. A Steamboat Gothic house is always at least two stories tall, with elaborate wraparound porches on multiple levels. Steamboat Gothic architecture features lacy gingerbread and complex scrollwork on the porches, as well as pillared galleries. Carpenter Gothic, on the other hand, is more restrained, and second-story porches are never seen on Carpenter Gothic homes.
The development of steam-powered scroll saws allowed mills to mass-produce scrollwork for sale, allowing for the elaborate decorations on Steamboat Gothic structures. Because designers didn’t have to worry about the often exorbitant price of hand-carved scrollwork, architects were able to use a lot of scrollwork in their designs. The frothy exterior details of Steamboat Gothic homes were frequently repeated inside as well.
The National Register of Historic Places lists several examples of Steamboat Gothic architecture, and many of them are open to the public as museums. Steamboat Gothic mansions can be found on several Southern plantations, many of which have been lovingly restored and maintained, and are well worth seeing if you’re in the area. If you visit a Steamboat Gothic home, keep an eye out for all of the intricate and minute architectural details; basically, any part of the house that can be embellished will be, from the eaves to the door frames.