The best way to learn about historic houses is to look at them closely, and the most fun way to look at them closely is to do a puzzle showing a wonderful historic house! So, we made a unique and interesting collection of Historic House Puzzles for you to enjoy!
This Second Empire style house has a lot of presence for a relatively small house. The defining feature of a Second Empire style building is the Mansard roof, named for 17th century French Baroque architect François Mansart. It was first used for an addition to the Louvre palace in Paris c. 1550. It became fashionable again during the Second French Empire (1852–1870), which corresponded with the middle Victorian era in the English-speaking world.
Typically called a French roof in the U.S. during the mid-19th century, a period when all things French (including the language) were “en vogue” for fashionable middle and upper class Americans. From the eave line down, Second Empire buildings are essential Italianate in style, but their roof gives them a different identity. The little Mansard “cap” at the top of the roof on this house is particularly fabulous.
Click on the dashed box at the top-right in the puzzle box below to open the puzzle to full screen. In the top left, you can change the number of pieces (100 pieces is the default), toggle piece rotation, and change the background color. Then hit “OK” and have fun!