According to Jeffrey Howe, a professor at Boston College, the Greek revival in American architecture began soon after the War of 1812. Howe asserts that this style was the first architectural style in America that could be considered truly national, as it was found in all regions of the young nation. The emergence and popularity of the style has been attributed to the association between Greek architecture and the principles of democracy.
Three kinds of Greek columns are most often found on houses: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The Doric style is a simple thick column that features unadorned tops and bottoms. The Ionic style features a thinner column with an ornate top. The Corinthian style features extremely elaborate tops adorned with leaves and occasionally statuettes of classical figures.
Greek columns have a variety of functions. While they do often serve to bear loads, ornate and expensive columns are not the most efficient manner in which to do this. Ancient Greek columns can be used on houses to evoke feelings associated with Greek antiquity (such as democracy and freedom) or simply because they beautify the house.
Greek-style columns also have been featured in houses outside the United States to express feelings of democracy and freedom as well as power. Columns have been used on large estates in Latin America and Europe since the 18th century and were indicators of wealth and status. Ancient Greek columns were used during the Soviet period as both a rejection of modernist architecture and to reflect the allegedly egalitarian nature of ancient Greece.
Greek columns are often associated with large estates; however, this is not necessarily true. Some houses feature simple and cheap wooden Doric columns that bear more resemblance to pre-Classical Greek styles than do stone columns. Greek-style columns are also sometimes thought to be associated with older houses; however, the style has remained consistently popular in America since the early 19th century.