Editing Queen Anne Architecture (section)

== Decline and Preservation ==

Queen Anne architecture yielded to Colonial Revival and other simpler styles by the early 1900s, as taste shifted toward restraint and historical accuracy. The style's elaborate ornament, requiring skilled craftsmanship and ongoing maintenance, became liabilities as labor costs rose. Some Queen Anne houses lost original features to unsympathetic modernization; others deteriorated as maintenance was deferred. The style's association with outdated Victorian taste made its buildings seem embarrassingly fussy to later generations.<ref name="tatum"/>

Preservation movements rescued Queen Anne architecture from continued neglect, recognizing its craftsmanship and contribution to neighborhood character. Historic district designations protect Queen Anne streetscapes in West Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill, and other neighborhoods. Individual owners have undertaken restorations that reveal original detail beneath later alterations. The style's exuberance, once derided, now attracts buyers seeking distinctive architecture that newer construction cannot replicate. Queen Anne houses command premium prices in neighborhoods where their elaborate facades and generous proportions appeal to contemporary taste.<ref name="moss"/>