Take the Self-Guided Greek Revival Tour

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The Tour

We have created a Greek Revival architectural tour in Albany with the help of one of our volunteers, Olivia Simard. It is a drivable and virtual tour, although some portions can be walkable. The tour includes eight stops throughout Albany, beginning in the Pastures Historic District and ending on Whitehall Road. Many of the stops encompass more than one building, so be sure to read descriptions carefully. If you ever have any questions about architectural terms, check out the architectural dictionary we have linked at the bottom of each entry.

There are many more examples of Greek Revival architecture in the Albany area, so it would be hard to highlight them all. Be on the lookout for more examples, and comment if you think you may have found one!

Take me on the tour already! >>

Or read more about Greek Revival Architecture below…

631 Clinton Ave - have you seen this temple-front home?

trinity place - another stop ont the tour

The History of the Greek Revival Architectural Style in America

There are many factors that contributed to the American interest in Grecian architectural forms. These include the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830) which prompted widespread sympathy in the United States, Greek’s long association with democracy and the diminishing affection of British styles among the American populace. The Grecian interest truly came at an opportune time: Americans wanted to distance themselves from their colonial roots and create a culture of their own. One of the most popular architectural styles of the time, Federal, was of British origin, so the United States was looking to embrace new architecture and move away from British-inspired styles. The Greek Revival style’s popularity can also be attributed to the growing global interest in Classical Antiquities that began in the mid-eighteenth century with the excavation of ruins, such as Pompeii, in Italy and Greece. 

Greek Revival was one of the predominant styles of architecture in the country during the 1830s, 40s, and 50s. It occurred in every region that was settled by 1860, but its presence was particularly large in areas that were being rapidly settled during this time. The largest concentrations of Greek Revival buildings that still stand today are found in states that had major population growth during the period from 1820 to 1860. New York’s population grew by around 2.5 million during those decades, making it one of the hubs for this type of architecture. Albany, as a city, was also in the throes of a major transformation during this time, thanks to the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. The canal inlet and the Albany Basin were in very close proximity to the area of Broadway and Livingston Ave, and because of this, there was an increase in commercial, industrial, and residential development following it’s completion. Look out for the stops on both Broadway and Livingston during the tour! Albany grew rapidly during the height of Greek Revival’s dominance, and the buildings decorated in that style that still stand today are proof of that.

The Characteristics of Greek Revival Architecture

The easiest way to recognize the Greek Revival style is the entryway to the building - on many of the homes you will see throughout the tour, the entryway is a major giveaway. Some characteristics to look out for in the entryway include a recessed entrance, transom windows above the doorway (or maybe even around the whole door), and doric columns or pilasters that frame the entrance. Other characteristics to look out for on the building as a whole are simple cornice lines with a wide band of trim beneath it, window sashes with six-pane glazing, and simple window lintels and sills. 

Pilaster

Photo:

Caption: “Pilaster: a flat column that is attached to a wall for decoration rather than support; often found at corners and doorways.” 

Source: https://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/p/pilas.html 

Dentils

Photo:

Caption: “Dentils: small square blocks in a series that are often found on cornices, moldings, and pediments”

Source: https://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/d/dent.html 

Transom

Photo:

Caption: “Transom window: a window or pane above a door”

Source: https://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/t/transom.html 

Entablature

Photo:

Caption: “Entablature: assemblage of moldings and bands located immediately above the columns”

Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/ionic-entablature-definition-architecture.html 

 
 
 

By Olivia Simard