When expressed without a specific national reference, the term "colonial" alone generally refers to English colonial architecture. However, the terms "French", "Spanish", "Dutch" and "English" are often used to classify Colonial architecture because early settlers imported the design characteristics for their new homes from their native homelands. Each type of Colonial architecture is distinguished by a very unique appearance related to the diverse background from which it emerged and the various regions from which it evolved. Accordingly, thick adobe brick walls and low-pitched or flat roofs usually characterize Spanish colonial architecture; whereas, French colonial

houses are more often timber framed with high-pitched roofs.

     The colonial architectural style eventually waned for political reasons during the American Revolution and significantly diminished in use until the late 1800s and early 1900s, when there was a rebirth of interest in English and Dutch colonial styles. Colonial revival houses of the early twentieth century were not necessarily copies of the original colonial homes. Characteristically, these homes were eclectic combinations of various colonial details. Thus, it is easy to distinguish the colonial revival style.