Italianate: Building homes in Italianate style was very popular between 1840 and the Civil War. This style was the first style used by early Cedar Falls settlers. Homes in Italianate style have the following characteristics and details:
* Box-shaped, with wide-shape additions
* Low-pitched, hipped or gable rooftops
* Wide eaves, supported by brackets
* Tall, thin windows usually rounded on the
top
* Bay windows are common
* Veranda (porch)
Queen Anne: This style was second major architectural influence in the nineteenth century. Queen Anne house styles were popular between 1885 and 1910. In the Black Hawk County area the Queen Anne style is primarily worked in frame. Brick examples are less common. Some of the characteristics of a Queen Anne home are as follows:
* Assymetrical
* Two or three stories
* Steep roof
* Many different window styles
* Bay windows, common turrets
* Large chimneys
* Many different siding materials
Colonial Revival: Considered less decorative, Colonial Revival moved away from the Victorian Age and was popular between 1890 and 1950. Historians believe that the return to Colonial architecture at this time was a part of the strong nationalistic moment taking place in the United States during this era. The features of Colonial Revival are as follows:
* Rectangular, usually two
stories
* Hipped, gambrel, or gable roof
* Shutters and windows with small panes
* Brick or clapboard siding
* Chimney, usually on side
* Doorway with pediments, pilasters,
fanlights, or sidelights
Craftsman/Bungalow: This style is a combination of the two styles, an inspiration of California architects. These homes held buyers' and builders' interests from 1905 to 1930. Some of the characteristics of these types of homes are as follows:
* Small, compact
* One and one-half stories or two stories
* With or without porches
* Dominate chimney made of brick or stone
* Low-pitched roofs with wide overhanging
eaves
