NAPPANEE — The Nappanee Historic Preservation Commission will host a presentation at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Nappanee Heritage Center, 302 W. Market St., Nappanee. Indiana Landmarks Preservation Specialist, Paul Hayden, will present, “The American Front Porch.”

The event is free and open to the public.

While the concept of the front porch was founded in past cultures and located at various parts of the globe, the front porch took on significant social status and a myriad of architectural styles thanks to American ingenuity. Attendees will learn how the front porch evolved from the grand verandas of the deep South before the Civil War era to the quaint bungalow porches of the American Southwest in the early 20th century.

Of special note are the porches associated with the high Victorian period, built in the elaborate Queen Anne style of late 19th century. The presentation will conclude with a case study of a large Italianate home in Elkhart that had its front porch removed and then recreated based on historic photographs.

Attendees are encouraged to bring photos of their own front porches to receive an onsite consultation about its care and restoration.

For more information and examples of photos, click here.