Mansard Monday ~ I am in Washington, DC, this week and thought I’d share my favorite Logan Circle Second Empire house.
This lovely Second Empire style double-house was built overlooking Logan Circle in Washington, DC, following the Civil War. This period corresponded with the peak in popularity of the Second Empire style, and the neighborhood has many beautiful Mansard-roofed houses.
The Mansard roof form that turns an Italianate style house into a Second Empire style house comes from France and was typically called a “French roof” during the 19th century – when all things Parisian were in vogue.
It is urban legend that these roofs were built to avoid paying taxes on an additional story. Property taxes are based on the square footage of finished living space, not the number of stories. They were built to be fashionable.
Understanding the style of a house will help you know which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Second Empire is one of 25 historic architectural styles described and illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select restoration/preservation titles by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
“Restoring Your Historic House is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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