| Moorish Architecture |
| Longwood (Nutt's Folly) |
| Inside of Unfinished Dome - Longwood |
| Iranistan - Library of Congress |
| Olana - Library of Congress |
| Castle Warden |
Moorish Architecture is a style of architecture common in Spain
from the 13th to the 16th centuries characterized by
horseshoe-shaped arches.
In the United States, Washington Irving's travel sketch, Alhambra
(1832) first brought Moorish Andalusia into readers' imaginations;
one of the first neo-Moorish structures was Iranistan, a mansion of
P. T. Barnum in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Constructed in 1848 and
demolished by fire ten years later, this architectural extravaganza
"sprouted bulbous domes and horseshoe arches".
Iranistan
Barnum said that in visiting Brighton, England, he had been greatly
pleased with the pavilion built there by George IV. George IV, had
ordered John Nash, the architect, to give his residence on the
south coast - Brighton Pavilion - "an Eastern character." This,
described by Nash as "the Hindoo style of architecture." It was at
that time the only specimen of Oriental architecture in England, and
the style had not been introduced into America. "I concluded to
adopt it, and engaged a London architect to furnish me a set of
drawings after the general plan of the pavilion, differing sufficiently
to be adapted to the spot of ground selected for my homestead. On
my second return visit to the United States, I brought these
drawings with me and engaged a competent architect and builder,
giving him instructions to proceed with the work, not 'by the job' but
'by the day,' and to spare neither time nor expense in erecting a
comfortable, convenient, and tasteful residence.
from the 13th to the 16th centuries characterized by
horseshoe-shaped arches.
In the United States, Washington Irving's travel sketch, Alhambra
(1832) first brought Moorish Andalusia into readers' imaginations;
one of the first neo-Moorish structures was Iranistan, a mansion of
P. T. Barnum in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Constructed in 1848 and
demolished by fire ten years later, this architectural extravaganza
"sprouted bulbous domes and horseshoe arches".
Iranistan
Barnum said that in visiting Brighton, England, he had been greatly
pleased with the pavilion built there by George IV. George IV, had
ordered John Nash, the architect, to give his residence on the
south coast - Brighton Pavilion - "an Eastern character." This,
described by Nash as "the Hindoo style of architecture." It was at
that time the only specimen of Oriental architecture in England, and
the style had not been introduced into America. "I concluded to
adopt it, and engaged a London architect to furnish me a set of
drawings after the general plan of the pavilion, differing sufficiently
to be adapted to the spot of ground selected for my homestead. On
my second return visit to the United States, I brought these
drawings with me and engaged a competent architect and builder,
giving him instructions to proceed with the work, not 'by the job' but
'by the day,' and to spare neither time nor expense in erecting a
comfortable, convenient, and tasteful residence.
Longwood (Nutt's Folly), Natchez Mississippi
Longwood is the largest octagon house in the world.The house was
started in 1859 by Dr. Haller Nutt.The design of the house was
created by a Philadelphia architect named Samuel Sloan and it
resembled an eight-sided castle. It also has a sixteen-sided cupola
on the top with an onion-shaped dome. It was designed to be six
stories tall and made of brick, marble and plaster with eight rooms
on each floor, surrounding a rotunda.
The construction on the house continued through 1860 but came to
a halt the following spring when the Civil War broke out. Sloan and
his workers returned home to fight for the Union, leaving Nutt's
home far from complete.... which is exactly how it still stands today.
Locals dubbed the house "Nutt's Folly."
Longwood is the largest octagon house in the world.The house was
started in 1859 by Dr. Haller Nutt.The design of the house was
created by a Philadelphia architect named Samuel Sloan and it
resembled an eight-sided castle. It also has a sixteen-sided cupola
on the top with an onion-shaped dome. It was designed to be six
stories tall and made of brick, marble and plaster with eight rooms
on each floor, surrounding a rotunda.
The construction on the house continued through 1860 but came to
a halt the following spring when the Civil War broke out. Sloan and
his workers returned home to fight for the Union, leaving Nutt's
home far from complete.... which is exactly how it still stands today.
Locals dubbed the house "Nutt's Folly."
Olana
Named for a fortress treasure-house in ancient Persia, Olana was
the home of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900) a student of
Thomas Cole, and major figure in the Hudson River School of
landscape painting. Olana was built high on a hill near Hudson,
New York between 1870 and 1891.
Named for a fortress treasure-house in ancient Persia, Olana was
the home of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900) a student of
Thomas Cole, and major figure in the Hudson River School of
landscape painting. Olana was built high on a hill near Hudson,
New York between 1870 and 1891.
| Olana - Library of Congress |
Joseph Jefferson House, New Iberia, La
The 1870s home reflects Moorish, Steamboat Gothic, French and
Southern plantation architectural styles. The dinning room is a
tribute to Moorish style. The house was designed by Jefferson and
George Francis an architect. Joe Jefferson was a famous actor of
the 19th century best known for portraying Rip Van Winkle from
Washington Irving.
The 1870s home reflects Moorish, Steamboat Gothic, French and
Southern plantation architectural styles. The dinning room is a
tribute to Moorish style. The house was designed by Jefferson and
George Francis an architect. Joe Jefferson was a famous actor of
the 19th century best known for portraying Rip Van Winkle from
Washington Irving.
Castle Warden
1888 St. Augustine home built by William Warden a Standard Oil
compatriot of Henry Flagler. Home is now the first Ripley's Believe
it or Not.
1888 St. Augustine home built by William Warden a Standard Oil
compatriot of Henry Flagler. Home is now the first Ripley's Believe
it or Not.
Villa Zoryada
St. Augustine's original contribution to Moorish design built by
Franklin Smith as a model of the Alhambra after Washington
Irving's description. In 1883 he built Villa Zoryada using concrete
mixed with coquina. While not the first concrete houses built in the
United States it was one of the first and the mixture with coquina
gives it a St. Augustine look that compares with the Castillo de
San Marco (the old Spanish fort).
St. Augustine's original contribution to Moorish design built by
Franklin Smith as a model of the Alhambra after Washington
Irving's description. In 1883 he built Villa Zoryada using concrete
mixed with coquina. While not the first concrete houses built in the
United States it was one of the first and the mixture with coquina
gives it a St. Augustine look that compares with the Castillo de
San Marco (the old Spanish fort).
St. Augustine has several other Moorish houses dating into the Moorish
revival of the 1890s. This house is located on the Bay Front.
revival of the 1890s. This house is located on the Bay Front.
Opa-Locka
In the mid-1920s, developer Glen Curtiss bought land north of Miami and built
an entire city of Moorish buildings. Under Curtiss' plan, nearly every building
in Opa-locka, Fla., had a dome and minaret. It became known as "the
Baghdad of the South" and "the Baghdad of Florida."
In the mid-1920s, developer Glen Curtiss bought land north of Miami and built
an entire city of Moorish buildings. Under Curtiss' plan, nearly every building
in Opa-locka, Fla., had a dome and minaret. It became known as "the
Baghdad of the South" and "the Baghdad of Florida."
| Opa-Locka City Hall |
| Alhambra |
St. Augustine's Flagler Hotels - Ponce de Leon, Alcazar and
Franklin Smith's Casa Monica continue the Moorish Archtecture
on a grand scale. These hotels introduced America to the
Moorish Archtecture starting in the 1880s. The term that the
hotels would use was Spanish archtecture in keeping with the
historical traditions of St. Augustine.
Franklin Smith's Casa Monica continue the Moorish Archtecture
on a grand scale. These hotels introduced America to the
Moorish Archtecture starting in the 1880s. The term that the
hotels would use was Spanish archtecture in keeping with the
historical traditions of St. Augustine.
| Alcazar Courtyard |
| Ponce de Leon - Courtyard |
| Casa Monica |
Villa Flora - St. Augustine built by a Baptist minister in the 1890s. Home to
Sisters of St. Joseph today.
Sisters of St. Joseph today.
Tampa Hotel by Henry Plant
The hotel was built in 1891 by Henry Plant in Tampa, Florida. With 511
rooms it was built of concrete. Today, it's the Henry Plant Museum.
The hotel was built in 1891 by Henry Plant in Tampa, Florida. With 511
rooms it was built of concrete. Today, it's the Henry Plant Museum.