Celebrating Architecture at Bed and Breakfasts

Online, April 13, 2011 (Newswire.com) - National Architecture Week is April 10 - 16, 2011. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) established this annual event as a time to showcase the positive role that architects play in our communities. Preserving and showcasing architecture is an important part of the bed and breakfast culture, especially for these B&Bs:

Possibly the most famous architect in New England, John Calvin Stevens designed more than 1,000 buildings in the state of Maine. He was named a fellow of the AIA in 1889 and in 2009, the city of Portland dedicated October 8th as John Calvin Stevens Day. The Brewster Inn (www.BnBfinder.com/BrewsterInn) of Dexter, ME was designed by Stevens in 1934 for Senator Ralph Owens Brewster and featured in the Oscar winning film "The Aviator." In 1988, the Brewster home became the Brewster Inn and was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.

Also in Maine and also on the National Register of Historic Places, the Maine Stay Inn (www.BnBFinder.com/MaineStayInn) of Kennebunkport, ME was built in 1860 for Sea Captain Melville Walker. This classic New England captain's home has some architectural details that are anything but. What looks like a widow's walk is actually a "candy cupola." The Captain added it to the house after it was built so that his children could have a dedicated room for pulling saltwater taffy. Also, in 1902, a floating staircase was removed from a ship and added to the inn's foyer.

In the Victorian seaside village of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, FL is the Fairbanks House Bed & Breakfast Inn (www.BnBFinder.com/FairbanksHouse). The Fairbanks House is the finest example of Italianate architecture in Florida. Italianate architecture pays homage to the classic Renaissance villas of Rome and was very popular in the US from the 1840s to 1890. The Fairbanks house was designed by Robert V. Schuyler and built for Major George R. Fairbanks in 1885.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Victorian houses should be very flattered by the Neo-Victorian Inn at the Park (www.BnBFinder.com/InnatthePark) in South Haven, MI. Complete with Victorian architectural details like scalloped shingles, gables, Victorian stained glass windows, and gingerbread ornamentation, this inn also features modern amenities like private bathrooms, wifi, and ample closet space.

Though each bed and breakfast offers a unique experience, interesting architecture is something many have in common. Whether they have been designed by famous architects, offer interesting architectural details, or herald a time long past, they are all excellent tributes to the long history of diverse architecture in the US.