July, 2008 Summer Institute Workshop
Hamilton Hall, Salem, Mass.

This lesson concerns an examination of architectural styles reminiscent of the federal and Greek Revival eras and their connection with the political views of the day. It also includes a math component.

Documents for the Geomtery of Democracy lesson

For this lesson students will examine the physical profile of 19th century public buildings with an understanding that many were created to reflect political beliefs of the time. Some early buildings in Essex County exhibit the Federal style, as befitting the new “federal” government. While other pay homage to the Greeks, by visually connecting them to the new United States. For early American leaders the Greeks (and to some extent the Romans) epitomized the ideas of “classical government”. The early documents of our new country borrowed heavily from their predecessors ideals and cultures, just as their architects liberally sprinkled motifs and elements which would have transmitted a certain reference to “democracy” to the citizenry.

Furthermore, teachers can use the structure of historical buildings to teach math concepts, such as geometric shape recognition and lines of symmetry in order to show an overlap of skill acquisition between mathematics and social studies. Students can then connect the construction of national buildings, particularly those found in our nation’s capital, to classical design, and understand some of the key elements which would have symbolized democratic ideals to the populace at large.

Photographs ... created by our museum educator, Rebecca Zimmerman

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• Hamilton Hall, Salem, MA (1805) photo from the website (see above)
• "Samuel McIntyre designed Hamilton Hall for a group of stockholders to serve as a gathering place for the local Federalist political party. For over 200 years, the Hall has hosted balls, auctions, plays, concerts, cotillions for local debutants, and weddings. The building exterior has many beautiful examples of the Federal style, including the evenly spaced arch-topped Palladian windows which light the ballroom and the delicately carved classical swags flanking the eagle. Many dignitaries, including the Marquis de Lafayette have been feted in the Hall." from Architecture in Salem, A Guide to Four Centuries of Design (see link below)

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• Custom House, Salem, MA (1819)
• "Built by the U.S. Customs Service in 1819, this Federal Style building served as a governmental office building from 1819 to 1937. The building was built in the most fashionable style of the period, featuring a a flight of granite steps leading to a formal entry on the second floor of the building. This building was designed to show that the Federal Government could build the type of monumental architecture that merchants and captains were used to seeing in Europe, and was a visual reminder of the strength and stability of the Federal Government." from Architecture in Salem, A Guide to Four Centuries of Design (see link below)

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• District Court, Ipswich, MA (c. 1830-40)
• This court house is another example of Greek revival architecture used in Essex County public buildings.

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• City Hall, Salem, MA (1837)
• "Salem City Hall, erected in 1836-37, is a good example of Greek Revival style. The building was designed by Boston architect Richard Bond, and has a granite facade, with brick walls on the other three sides. A replica of the eagle carved by Samuel McIntyre is on the roof. The building was expanded in 1876, and again in 1978-79." from Architecture in Salem, A Guide to Four Centuries of Design (see link below)

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• Court House, Salem, MA (1841)
• Salem acted as an important County seat in the 18th and early 19th century. At the end of "Federal Street" stands this stately example of the Greek Revival style architecture, with its magificent columns and pediment.

Additional Teacher Resources ...from the National Park Service, Salem, MA

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• Architecture in Salem A Guide to Four Centuries of Design (.pdf)
• This publication outlines the major architectural styles evident in Salem from the 17th through the 20th centuries. It gives a quick over view of the style components and then gives information on examples of that style. A good primer, this brochure could easily be used with older elementary students.

Other websites of interest...

Loggia - Exploring American Architecture - Federal/Greek Revival Architecture Quick Reference Guide

Kennedy Center ArtsEdge; From Greece to Main Street - lessons connecting local Greek Revival architecture to national buildings

A Digital Archive of American Architecture - online tool for looking at American Architecture