Architectural Styles in Ottumwa's Historic Districts

 Ottumwa's historic buildings represent many different architectural styles. The characteristics of some of the more common architectural styles are listed below.

Italianate (1840-1885)

• Balanced, symmetrical facade
• Decorative details: crowned doors
• One-story entrance porch
• Arch emphasis over tall, narrow windows
• 2 or 3-stories
• Low pitched roof
• Wide overhanging eaves with decorative brackets
• May have square cupola or tower

Queen Anne (1880-1910)

• Distinguishing feature - decorative wall surfaces (wood shingle pattern common)
• Ornamental details - spindlework ("gingerbread" ornamentation)
• Steeply pitched roof; irregular shape
• Asymmetrical facade
• One story porch along one or both sides
• Cutaway bay window

Tudor style architecture Tudor (1890-1940)

• Prominent gable
• Decorative half-timbering
• Massive chimney
• Steeply pitched roof
• Side-gabled
• Tall, narrow windows
• Dominate surface on first story walls

Neoclassical style architecture Neoclassical (1895-1940)

• Typically 2-story with prominent full height porch
• Porch columns elaborate - usually Corinthian
• Facade symmetrically balanced (centered door)
• Doors have decorative surroundings
• Eaves are boxed with a moderate overhang

Craftsman style architecture Craftsman (1905-1930)

• Low-pitched roof
• Wide, open eave overhang with rafters exposed
• Porches with roof supports that are tapered square columns extending to ground level (with no breaks at porch floor)