Civil War-era home designs & floor plans from the 1860s

Home plans from the Civil War era

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See floor plans and exterior views of 7 antique homes from the Civil War era, designed by prominent architects and built during the early 1860s.

Design for a rural residence from 1863

First story: Vestibule, sitting room, parlor, parlor, dining room, kitchen, hall, porch.

Second story: Roof, chambers, dressing room, nursery, bath.

home designs floorplans from 1863 (2)


A picturesque villa from the Civil War

Designed expressly for Godey’s Lady’s Book by Samuel Sloan, Architect, Philadelphia

We are indebted to Mr Sloan for the illustration of the residence of our present Secretary of State, Eli Slifer, Esq., who kindly permits the use of them for our readers.

The chosen site of this building is on the western bank of the Susquehanna River, in the suburbs of the town of Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania.

As will be seen by a reference to the plans, the house is designed as well for convenience as in its interior arrangements for beauty and picturesqueness, in part caused by its irregular outline.

The man who builds a country-house for a family consisting of eight persons would, perhaps, find the rear portions of this one unnecessary, neither would their omission impair its beauty.

1862 home plan - A picturesque villa

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Small bracketed villa

Designed expressly for Godey’s Lady’s Book by Samuel Sloan, Architect, Philadelphia

This little villa, so picturesque in appearance, would make a very appropriate residence for a family of moderate size.

The round-headed windows and porch arcades architecturally forbid the use of such a pitch as the main roof has; but it will be seen that this piquancy is obviated by the truncation of the latter, thereby agreeably subduing the otherwise discord and composition.

First floor: Ample hall, fine drawing room, dining room, kitchen, library.

Second floor contains five very good chambers, and a number of appendages, such as closets, etc. rarely found in a dwelling of this magnitude.

Classic home design Small bracketed villa (1862)


Northern farm house (1862)

Northern farm house (1862)

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Rural residence (1863)

First story: Parlor, sitting room, dining room, breakfast room, kitchen, washroom, porch, carriage porch, porch, washroom

Second story: Principal chamber, chamber, bath and water closet, bath, chamber, roof

home designs floorplans from 1863 (3)


Suburban villa

Designed expressly for Godey’s Lady’s Book by Samuel Sloan, Architect, Philadelphia

The villa which we here present is exceedingly expressive of architectural style, and in its construction evidently demands some solid material, such as stone, or at least its imitation, as the principal building material.

Space will not permit us to say more in its praise then that is has made its owner a most comfortable home for a number of years, and its appearance excites the admiration of all impassioned judges.

First floor: A fine vestibule, stair hall, drawing room, four other rooms with pantries, closets, etc; sitting room, kitchen, outside kitchen or wash-house

Second floor: Six fine chambers, bath-room, additional bedrooms

Cottage in bracketed style - 1862


Gothic cottage

Designed expressly for Godey’s Lady’s Book by Samuel Sloan, Architect, Philadelphia

This cottage is essentially Gothic in its character. Its appointments indicate its suitableness to the habits of northern life. It is quite picturesque in appearance, and would form a pleasant feature in almost any landscape.

Principal floor: Porch, hall, parlor, sitting room, dining room, kitchen with storeroom, summer kitchen, veranda

Second floor: Hall, chambers, bedroom

Gothic cottage home plan 1862

100 YEARS LATER: 125 vintage ’60s home plans used to design & build millions of mid-century houses across America

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