A History Through Houses: Cape Cod's Varied Residential Architecture

by Jaci Conry

The rugged beauty of the Cape's landscape has been captured in writing since the days of Henry David Thoreau. Yet few mention the area's architecture, aside from references to the "Cape Cod houses," the basic cottages that the earliest settlers built. From Provincetown at the northern tip to the village of Woods Hole at the opposite end, the residential architecture of Cape Cod encompasses an extensive range of styles. Scattered among the charming Capes are stately Federals and Greek Revivals built for sea captains, detailed Carpenter Gothic cottages constructed by Methodist camp-goers and sprawling Victorian and Shingle-style summer mansions built during the Gilded Age. Journey with Cape Cod native Jaci Conry as she reveals the architectural influences of different eras on this timeless peninsula.

Genres: Architecture

162 pages, Hardcover

First published July 30, 2010

Reviews

[Larissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked more photo examples of the concepts that were discussed.

[Marian Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief overview. I would have preferred a longer more detailed volume but was grateful that the author covered the 17th to the 21st century with a section on preservation and updating issues.