Cape Cod House Designs
from the Historic American Building Survey
According to the
Library of Congress, the Cape Cod house is the simplest of all
New England Colonial houses. It's generally a rectangular frame
house (usually shingled or clapboarded) with a straight
unadorned ridge roof, and a massive chimney centrally located in
line with the front entrance. The type developed from the last
quarter of the 17th century to about 1830, and later enjoyed a
resurgence in post-World War II America. The wide appeal of the
Cape Cod cottage makes it one of the best known forms of
traditional American architecture.
The Library of
Congress list of Cape Cod home designs, shown in photos and
measured drawings, includes seventy three homes built throughout
New England. Although most of the designs are classic gable-roof
cottages, the list also includes homes with gambrel and round or
bow roofs.
The Historic
American Building Survey is a joint effort of the Library of
Congress and the National Park Service. Read more about their
efforts to preserve America's heritage by visiting their
website:
Built in America To learn
more about any of the designs listed here, search for it by its
card number. Then, explore the vast and ever-growing HABS
collection to view related building designs.
