A guide to historic architectural styles found throughout Topeka's older neighborhoods

          opeka streets and neighborhoods feature a rich collection of widely varying architectural styles. These styles represent the city's development from a small prairie township to the dynamic capital city that it is today.

While using this guide to identify styles, you may find that many homes exhibit features of several different types. These houses are just as architecturally significant as pure examples, because they demonstrate the transition from one period of history to another.

Explore Topeka's neighborhoods and see how many of the following historical styles you can identify:

A Sampling of Topeka's Historic Neighborhoods

1-Oakland	6-Potwin Place	11-Westwood	16-Tennesseetown
2-Shop District	7-Edgewood Park	12-Westboro	17-Holliday Park
3-North Topeka	8-Auburndale	13-Collins Park	18-Bethany Square
4-Central Topeka	9-Vesper's Addition	14-College Hill	19-Quinton Heights
5-Kenwood	10-Prospect Hills	15-Elmhurst	20-Highland Park

ITALIANATE 1840-1885 Lower Silverlake Rd in N. Topeka Decorative brackets under eaves, often paired; low-pitched, hipped roof; window hoods; tall, narrow windows, commonly arched.

EASTLAKE 1870-1900 N.W. Harrison St. in North Topeka Name refers to style of woodwork: furniture-like, lathe-turned posts, balusters and railings; named for English furniture designer, Charles Eastlake.

ENGLISH TUDOR 1900-1935 S.W. Fillmore St. in Holliday Park Combinations of: half-timbering, casement windows, steep gables, prominent chimney, chimney pots, Tudor arch, brick, stone, wood or stucco.

ENGLISH COTTAGE 1915-1940 S.W. High Ave. in Collins Park Smaller in scale and featuring simpler combination of Tudor details.

GEORGIAN REVIVAL 1910-1935 S.W.MacVicar Ave. in College Hill Formal, symmetrical facade; central, pedimented entry; detailed cornice; classical details, especially around door; commonly red brick.

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE REVIVAL 1890-1930 S.W. Pembroke Lane in Westboro Series of arches, grouped or singular; green or red tile roof; decorative crests on facade; Palladian windows or openings; often light-colored brick.

SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL 1915-1940 W. 1st St. in Central Topeka Red tile roof; stucco walls; arched openings; often has rustic wood doors and wrought-iron window grilles.

FRENCH ECLECTIC 1915-1945 S.W. Westover Rd. in Westboro Resembles Tudor style except tall, steeply pitched roof has flared eaves and house commonly has prominent, round tower.

PRAIRIE 1900-1920 S.W. Greenwood Ave. in Potwin Low, spread-out appearance with wide overhanging eaves; wide, horizontal bands of windows; first popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright.

HOMESTEAD 1900-1920 N.E. Twiss Ave. in Oakland 1 1/2- or 2 1/2-story, simple rectangular box with front- gabled roof and columned front porch; sometimes called "Temple-Front" house.

AMERICAN FOUR-SQUARE 1905-1925 S.W. Garfield Ave. in Elmhurst Same as 2 1/2-story Homestead house except has hipped roof instead of gabled; dormer window in roof.

CRAFTSMAN 1910-1930 S.E.Virginia Ave. in Highland Park Simple brackets or exposed rafter ends under eaves; squared porch supports made of wood, stone or brick; broad front porch; broad gable(s).

AIRPLANE BUNGALOW 1920-1930 S.W. Kendall Ave. in Kenwood Craftsman-style house with small room(s) used as sleeping porch added to top rear of house; not commonly found outside Topeka region.

ART MODERNE 1930-1945 S.W. Pembroke Lane in Westwood Flat roof; smooth stucco walls; horizontal railings; curved corners; casement windows; streamlined, industrial appearance.

QUEEN ANNE VICTORIAN 1880-1910 S.W. Fillmore St. in Holliday Park Steep, irregular-shaped roof; highly decorative mixture of shapes and wall textures, including shingles; asymmetrical facade.

FOLK VICTORIAN 1870-1910 N.E. Freeman Ave. in Shop District Simpler, often smaller, Victorian homes with less elaborate combination of Eastlake or Queen Anne details.

NEO-CLASSICAL 1895-1950 S.W. Taylor St. in Bethany Square Full-height entry porch, often pedimented; facade usually symmetrical; classical details, especially columns; often painted white.

DUTCH COLONIAL REVIVAL 1895-1930 S.W. 6th St. in Vesper's Addition Primary identifying feature: gambrel roof.

symmetrical - balanced, identical on left and right sides asymmetrical - not balanced half-timbering - exterior wood framing with spaces filled with stucco

HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN TOPEKA

The Shawnee County Historical Society seeks to promote the preservation of Topeka's historic neighborhoods, buildings and sites through education and advocacy. Volunteers have rallied to save countless historic properties in the city, and have sponsored special events, publications, tours, lectures, preservation awards, and fundraising for projects such as the restoration of the 1880 Ross Rowhouses, acquired by Historic Topeka, Inc. in 1993. HTI merged with the Shawnee County Historical Society in 2003.

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• Read an excellent article about Topeka's Garlinghouse Homes.
• Read about Topeka's suburban expansion.
• Read about bungalow-style homes in Topeka.