Mansard Monday from my recent Road Trip ~ Lovely c. 1873 Second Empire house in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
A grand survivor on Prairie Avenue in Chicago, likely built shortly after the Great Fire of 1872. This street was then developing as the most desirable address for the city’s wealthy citizens. Only a few decades later, Society (with an upper case “S”) would leave Prairie Ave. and move uptown.
The defining feature of a Second Empire style building is the Mansard roof, named for 17th-century French Baroque architect François Mansart. Typically called a French roof in the U.S. during the mid-19th century, when all things French were “en vogue” for fashionable Americans. Second Empire buildings are essentially Italianate in style from the eave line down, but the roof gives them a different identity. It is an urban legend that Mansard roofs were built to avoid being taxed for another story of living space.
Second Empire and Italianate styles are two of 25 styles illustrated and described 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 shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
It is the perfect holiday gift for the old house lover on your list!
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save on cost and shipping 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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