Much of my work as a public historian focuses on historic houses and their architectural significance. The Architectural Spotlight series briefly highlights some of the most recognizable and important architectural styles in American history, helping readers better understand the primary characteristics of each. If you’re interested in my professional historic research and National Register nomination services, you can learn more here . As of late, I have been working on a Na

I sometimes wish I could time-travel—not to live in another century permanently, but just to drop in for a day or two. The reason wouldn’t be to escape the modern world (I’m quite content with antibiotics, electricity, and women’s rights). It would be to experience the built environment of the past. To walk down streets where schools, churches, homes, and courthouses were crafted with proportion, ornament, and pride, and to compare that experience to the strip malls, subdivis

April 9, 2026 Update: This post was originally published in 2025 but remains applicable today, as the federal FY 2027 budget request again calls for the near-elimination of the Historic Preservation Fund. Scearce House, built 1852. Danville, Indiana. Currently under consideration for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the reasons I’m passionate about historic preservation has nothing to do with history or old buildings. It’s that preservation has been

Both of my parents are from northeastern Ohio, so I’ve been making trips to the area my entire life. Despite that, I had never heard of Akron’s Stan Hywet Hall until just a year ago. When I finally visited, I was floored. The house is a breathtaking Tudor Revival mansion nestled at the heart of a sprawling estate. It was built between 1912 and 1915 by F. A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and his wife, Gertrude. There are ten thousand things to