A widow's walk, also known as a widow's watch or roofwalk, is a railed rooftop platform often having an inner cupola / turret frequently found on 19th-century North American coastal houses.

2022年11月28日 · Also known as a roof walk or widow’s watch, it is an iconic feature of coastal homes, like those found in Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. For lovers of antique homes, the widow’s walk is ...

2024年10月9日 · Also referred to as a captain's walk or lookout, the widow's walk allowed homeowners to monitor activity in the harbor—particularly the comings and goings of ships.

5 天之前 · A widow’s walk is a small, open platform on the roof of a house, typically surrounded by a railing. It’s designed to offer elevated views of the surrounding area, often located near water. The structure was originally built for a very specific and emotional purpose, one tied to maritime culture and the lives of sailors’ families. ...

2023年5月17日 · Learn about why widow’s walks were installed on top of homes in coastal areas and helped with fire protection.

Inspired by the cupolas of Italianate architecture, the design addition soon became synonymous with New England coastal architecture and remains so today. The widow’s walk (or “viewing platform,” as it was sometimes called) is a raised and fenced rectangular structure built on …

2017年6月20日 · Depicting an almost mythical structure, the diverse histories behind widow’s walks, whether real or imagined, all seem to merge into a collective nostalgia of a seaman’s wife or companion looking out from a heightened vantage point, in the hope of his safe return.

2000年9月1日 · The quintessential New England widow’s walk was a small platform on the roof with a short picturesque railing around it. Most widow’s walks were accessed by a ladder and a trap door from the top floor or attic.

2020年1月14日 · What is a widow's walk? And more importantly, is the myth of the widow's walk true? In this piece, we get answers to these questions as we discuss the history of the widow's walk (also known as a captain's walk, scuttle, cupola, or roofwalk).

Discover the history & modern uses of Widow's Walks, a unique architectural feature, from coastal lookout spots to modern home design elements.