s style are the Meridian House (1630 Crescent Place NW) and its neighbor, the White-Meyer House (1624 Crescent Place NW) — both designed by architect John Russell Pope, says Andrus of the National Register of Historic Places.
The Causeway, also known as the Tregaron Estate, built in 1912 in Cleveland Park, is an example of Neoclassical Revival.
Victorian (mid-1800s to early 1900s):
From the tall Northeast rowhouses with turrets to the wraparound porches in Takoma Park, Victorian elements are widespread.
“A lot of people think of gingerbread houses,” says Marc Schappell, managing partner at Washington Fine Properties and a board member of the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
But he and other experts point out that the era has distinct styles, including Second Empire, Queen Anne, Stick and Romanesque Revival.
The most distinguishing feature of Second Empire homes might be their dual-pitched hipped roof with dormer windows. You can see this at the Carlheim mansion in Leesburg and the General Oliver Otis Howard House on the grounds of Howard University.
There are also many examples throughout the Logan Circle neighborhood, says Brierton, the historic preservation specialist.
Romanesque Revival homes are known for their “heaviness” and are often made of stone, Moeller says. They are characterized by round arches — which can be over windows or used for porch supports — and towers with conical roofs.
The house at 408A St. SE in Capitol Hill and the row that spans 1000 to 1008 Pennsylvania Avenue SE are good examples of the Romanesque Revival style, Williams says.
Queen Anne elements include the wraparound front porch, second-story porches or balconies; classical columns; bay windows; painted balustrades; and steeply pitched wooden or slate roofs. Examples are everywhere, including the northwest arc of Logan Circle and in Capitol Hill.
Other interesting Queen Annes include the William W. Early House in Brandywine, the John C. Motter House in Frederick and the Mullett Rowhouses on the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Colonial Revival (late 1800s to mid-1950s):
Spanning more than a century, Colonial Revival is a popular style in the District and its suburbs.
“I don’t know if there’s a neighborhood without it,” Brierton says.
The lines are symmetrical; the windows are often in pairs. A small porch supported by pilasters may cover the front door.
The Fairlington apartment complex in Arlington County is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a fine display of Colonial Revival style. Two other notable examples are the Frances Perkins House (2326 California St. NW) and Meridian Manor in Columbia Heights.
Tudor Revival (late 1800s to 1940):
Tudor Revivals are recognized by the decorative wood timbers on their facade; the tall, narrow windows with diamond panes; and the severely pitched roofs. There are, of course, variations on the theme.
The majority of houses in Northwest’s Foxhall Village and in Baltimore’s Tuscany-Canterbury neighborhood are Tudors.
Another landmark is the Newlands-Corby Mansion in Chevy Chase.
Beaux-Arts (1880 to 1920):
From apartment buildings to embassies, Beaux-Arts examples line Massachusetts Avenue NW from Dupont Circle to Sheridan Circle and fill the Meridian Hill area.
Sculptural decoration, grand entrances and staircases, balustrades, pilasters and garlands are typical of Beaux-Arts design. These buildings generally have a flat roof, and many have arched windows.
A classic Beaux-Arts is the Patterson House (now the Washington Club) on Dupont Circle, Moeller says.
The Mexican Cultural Institute, formerly the McVeagh residence, at 2829 16th St. NW was designed by Nathan Wyeth, the only Washington-based architect who received his diploma from the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, Williams says.
American Craftsman (1905 to 1930):
See a bungalow and chances are it’s an American Craftsman, which features low pitched roofs with eaves and front porches with large square columns.
The floor plans are compact, Williams says. (You won’t see the Victorian-era servant wings and quarters.) There’s an all-purp