The Secret Style of Iowa Architecture

This historic Iowa home uses the Queen Anne style to look purposefully chaotic. Its irregular shape and cluttered roofline were actually status symbols for 19th-century business leaders.

During the late 1800s, wealthy merchants loved these sprawling, asymmetrical homes to show off their success. The house features a mix of textures and fancy brickwork that was considered the height of fashion at the time. By building with an unpredictable layout, owners could prove they were modern and affluent. It remains a rare, preserved example of how small-town bankers once displayed their power.