What is Colonial American architecture?

Arts & Activities, May, 2005 by Barbara Herberholz

VHS/CD/VISUAL

WHAT IS COLONIAL AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE? Video/16 min./$69. Level: High School and Above. Lucerne Media, 37 Ground Pine Road, Morris Plains, NJ 07950, (800) 341-2293.

This short video packs a great deal of information and images in relation to helping students recognize Colonial American architecture. It presents numerous houses--from the thatched houses of Jamestown, medieval buildings of Plymouth and clapboard homes of New England. While viewing the excellent images, they will learn that American Colonial buildings were influenced by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio as well as ancient Rome. We see Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home with its domed and columned designs and the University of Virginia. Then we take a look at Washington's Mount Vernon and the Capitol, where we learn that Georgian, Federal and Palladian all make up aspects of Colonial American architecture. At the end of the video, a comprehensive list of terms is presented and defined.--B.H. For information about this program, circle No. 392 on the Reader Service Card.