19th Century NJ Architecture: Innovation & Industrialization

Saturday, 4 November 2023 2-4 pm

Washington Township Public Library
34 East Springtown Road
Washington Township, NJ  07853

Janet W. Foster is a former professor of architectural history at Columbia University and a noted architectural historian, author and preservationist.  Join us as Janet examines the innovations which made possible the beauty and function of 19th-century architecture.

Architecture in 19th century America moved away from the different vernacular forms of settler groups to a recognizable national set of forms and styles. New Jersey was central to this, because of the confluence of influential architects practicing in  the state and the rise of industrial production of construction materials. This brief survey of 19th century architecture  focuses on the ways NJ led the nation in the development of suburbs, the use of nails in construction, and the introduction of new technologies like electricity into homes and businesses.