Guides

Read a building yourself.

How to tell what style a building is, what style your house is, and where its history is written down. For the details, the field guide has 146 styles, 139 features and 50 architects, and the city guides list 5,723 buildings worth seeing.

How to identify a building's architectural style Date it, then read the roof, the arches and windows, the ornament and the materials. With the features that point to each style. What style is my house? American house styles from Saltbox to Modern Farmhouse, sorted by period, with the roof, window, porch and wall clues for each. How to find the history of a building The records that hold a building's story, from National Register nominations and deeds to fire insurance maps, census records and newspapers.