The Cape Cod Cottage

A charming photographic study of the quintessential American house style

Originally developed in the 1600s to withstand harsh Massachusetts winters, the Cape Cod cottage―with its central door and chimney, flanking windows, and steeply pitched roof―is an instantly recognizable architectural form. Thanks to its simple and versatile layout, it has been adapted in countless ways by modern builders, and remains one of the most popular styles of American house.

In this photo essay―printed in beautiful black and white and accompanied by an insightful text―William Morgan traces the entire history of the Cape Cod cottage, from its Colonial origins, to the suburban starter homes of midcentury America, to the creative interpretations of contemporary architects. The images―most of them Morgan’s own―explore both the pleasingly understated exteriors and the cozy interiors of representative Cape Cod cottages.

Newly reissued in a handsome hardcover edition, The Cape Cod Cottage will be the perfect gift for anyone who lives in one of these classic American homes.

William Morgan, an architectural historian, has taught at Princeton, the University of Louisville, and Brown. He is the author of Academia: Collegiate Gothic Architecture in the United States (Abbeville), Monadnock Summer, and American Country Churches, among others.

Daniel V. Scully is principal of the New Hampshire architectural firm Daniel V. Scully/Architects.