Antebellum architecture

Antebellum architecture (from Antebellum South, Latin for "pre-war") is the neoclassical architectural style characteristic of the 19th-century Southern United States, especially the Deep South, from after the birth of the United States with the American Revolution, to the start of the American Civil War. Antebellum architecture is especially characterized by Georgian, Neo-classical, and Greek Revival style homes and mansions. These plantation houses were built in the southern American states during roughly the 30 years before the American Civil War; approximately between the 1830s to 1860s.

Key features

While Antebellum style homes have their roots in Neoclassical architectural styles, several adaptations to were made to compensate for the hot subtropical climate of the southern United States.

The main exterior characteristics of antebellum architecture included huge pillars, a balcony that ran along the whole outside edge of the house creating a porch that offers shade and spot to enjoy a breeze (sometimes a second-story porch, potentially to be for slave monitoring), and a sitting area in the cooler evenings. It features expansive and symmetrical facades as well as elaborate decorative details. The evenly spaced large windows ventilated the warm air outside. Most homes had big centered entrances at the front and rear of the house. A hipped or gabled roof are characteristics of antebellum architecture and often feature a cupola. (A cupola is a dome-like structure on top of a building that provides ventilation and serves as decoration.) These mansions were also often surrounded by grand gardens with geometrically cut bushes that complemented the symmetry of the houses.