Architecture 101: Colonial Revival

Updated on January 11, 2026

Iowa City’s neighborhoods tell the story of American architecture through the decades. You have everything from grand old Victorians on Summit Street to brand-new construction going up in subdivisions around town. The homes here span nearly 200 years, which means you can walk through a single neighborhood and see half a dozen different architectural styles, all reflecting the tastes and trends of their particular era.

We’ve been diving into some of these styles over the past few months—we’ve looked at Prairie homes and explored Tudor architecture. This time around, we’re turning our attention to Colonial Revival, a style that brought traditional American design back into fashion and still influences new construction today.

 

History

America’s Centennial celebration, held in Pennsylvania in 1876, inspired a nationwide appreciation for our colonial architectural heritage. Architects began borrowing inspiration from these Old World structures, combining stylistic details from early English and Dutch colonial houses to create the eclectic Colonial Revival style. This style was a popular choice for homes and buildings constructed during the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.  

Many decorative elements used in Colonial Revival homes were inspired by Classical architecture. Throughout the height of the architectural style’s existence, the design and features shifted, but the timeless, Classical look always remained. The popularity of the Colonial Revival aesthetic had a continued influence on architectural designs for years to come, even continuing on as inspiration for elements of some Victorian homes. 

 

Identifying Colonial Revival Buildings

While there are numerous variations of Colonial Revival homes, there are several key elements that can help identify this style. In general—when determining if a home is a Colonial Revival style—you should look for the following features:

• Formal, often symmetrical exterior
• Typically rectangular shaped, with an occasional side wing
• Side-gabled roof
• Front door accentuated with decorative crown and supported by slender columns
• Dormers in the roofline
• Simple windows with shutters

Variations in the Colonial Revival Style

While all Colonial Revival homes share a few common elements, there are variations which make each home unique.

Porch

One prominent variation between Colonial Revival homes can be found at the home’s entrance. While uncommon, some Colonial Revival homes feature a porch.

If they are present, they tend to be small entry porches that cover less than the full facade; however, there are some Colonial Revival homes with porches that span the length of the house.

Roof

The majority of Colonial Revival homes feature a traditional, side-gabled roof. However, certain styles may have a centered gable roof or a gambrel roof. Few Colonial Revival homes feature a centered gable roof.

More common are homes with a gambrel roof. This type is commonly known as Dutch Colonial.

Levels

While typical Colonial Revival homes feature two stories, one- and three-story designs can also be found. One story variations tend to be seen in Cape Cod-style cottages that were built in the 1920s–1940s.

Less commonly found are Colonial Revival houses that are three stories high. These styles are typically narrow with low-pitched, hipped roofs, and are often found in urban settings.

Symmetry

When picturing a classic Colonial Revival, it’s likely symmetry comes to mind. However, a small number of Colonial Revival homes feature an asymmetrical facade.

Homes of this variation tend to be found on anything from free-form styles resembling Queen Anne Victorians to simple box designs.

 

Local and Regional Examples

Local: Yacht Club, Iowa City

Right downtown on South Linn Street, you can see Colonial Revival architecture at the building that housed Iowa City’s former Yacht Club. Built in 1918, the building’s exterior has stayed pretty much true to its original design for over a century, even through a restoration in 2000.

The symmetrical facade and classical proportions are textbook Colonial Revival—the kind of formal, traditional design that was having a major moment in the early 20th century. It’s a good example of how this style showed up not just in residential homes but in commercial buildings around Iowa City, too.

 

524 N. Johnson St, Iowa City

Another great example sits at 524 N. Johnson Street, where the old Czechoslovakian Association Hall was built in 1900. The building shows classic Colonial Revival touches that were popular around the turn of the century—symmetrical design and traditional proportions that harken back to early American architecture.

The Czechoslovakian Association organized in 1882 and used this hall for social gatherings, cultural events, and even gymnastics, serving as a real community hub for Iowa City’s Czech immigrants. Today, the building houses the Preucil School of Music and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1976, recognizing its architectural and cultural significance to Iowa City.

 

Tri Delta Sorority House, Iowa City

Over on North Clinton Street, the Tri Delta Sorority House is a standout example of Colonial Revival architecture from around 1920. The two-and-a-half-story brick and clapboard building features all the decorative touches that make Colonial Revival so recognizable—roof dormers, wall dormers, quoining at the corners, and elegant fanlights over doorways.

Architectural historians think it might actually be a remodeling of an earlier, smaller house that was expanded and given a Colonial Revival facelift during that style’s heyday. All these details work together to create the kind of formal, stately appearance that was popular for institutional buildings like sorority houses in the early 20th century.

Regional: Graceland, Memphis, TN

One of the most famous examples of Colonial Revival architecture in the country is Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee—Elvis Presley’s home from 1957 until his death in 1977. Built in 1939 by architects Furbringer and Ehrman for Dr. Thomas Moore and his wife Ruth, the mansion is a textbook example of the style with its two-story design, symmetrical five-bay facade, central pedimented portico with white columns, and tan limestone veneer.

The 10,266-square-foot home sits on a 13.8-acre estate and was originally designed with large, open rooms that could accommodate musical performances for the Moore’s daughter, a piano and harp prodigy.

 

Little White House, Warm Springs, GA

Down in Warm Springs, Georgia, you’ll find the Little White House, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s personal retreat during his presidency. Built in 1932 by architect Henry J. Toombs for just under $9,000, the modest six-room Colonial Revival cottage is constructed of Georgia pine with simple symmetry and classic proportions.

FDR first came to Warm Springs in 1924 seeking treatment for polio in the area’s naturally warm springs, and he loved the area so much that he had this house built as his escape from Washington. The residence features three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and entrance hall—all preserved exactly as they were on April 12, 1945, when Roosevelt died there while sitting for a portrait.

 

Show Us the Colonial Revival Homes Near You

Do you know of any Colonial Revival homes in your community? We’d love to see them! Take a picture, and use the hashtag #UAhistorichomes.

And when you’re ready to find a home of your own, reach out to one of our agents!