Gideon Shryock
Encyclopedia
Gideon Shryock was an American
Greek Revival architect
.
Shryock was a native of Lexington, Kentucky
, the son of a housebuilder and contractor, Mathias Shryock
, who had moved to Kentucky
from Maryland
and who would father 10 other children in Kentucky besides Gideon. One of Gideon's younger brothers, Cincinnatus Shryock
, would also become an architect.
Shryock studied at Lancastrian Academy in Lexington, and was later apprenticed to architect William Strickland
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
for one year, after working in family business. While in Philadelphia, Shryock acquired a copy of the American edition of Swan's British Architect, which he brought back to Lexington.
Shryock is credited on a Kentucky historical marker as the builder and designer of the important Old Bank of Louisville
, though it was actually designed by architect James Dakin and Shryock superintended the construction of Dakin's design.
(1812-1890).
Shryock is one of the namesakes of Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky
.
Shryock is buried in the Shryock family plot at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Greek Revival architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Shryock was a native of Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, the son of a housebuilder and contractor, Mathias Shryock
Mathias Shryock
Mathias or Matthias Shryock was an early American architect and building contractor.-Life and career:...
, who had moved to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and who would father 10 other children in Kentucky besides Gideon. One of Gideon's younger brothers, Cincinnatus Shryock
Cincinnatus Shryock
Cincinnatus Shryock was an American architect.-Life and career:Shryock was born into a famous American architectural family...
, would also become an architect.
Shryock studied at Lancastrian Academy in Lexington, and was later apprenticed to architect William Strickland
William Strickland (architect)
William Strickland , was a noted architect in nineteenth-century Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Nashville, Tennessee.-Life and career:...
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
for one year, after working in family business. While in Philadelphia, Shryock acquired a copy of the American edition of Swan's British Architect, which he brought back to Lexington.
Notable designs
- Old State HouseOld State House (Little Rock)The Old State House is a historic building in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. It is the oldest surviving state capitol building west of the Mississippi River. It is known best as the site of President Bill Clinton's election night celebration in 1992....
at Little Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
(begun 1833, completed in 1842) http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/arkansas/littlerock/statehouse/shryock.html Hired by United States Senator John PopeJohn Pope (politician)John Pope was a United States Senator from Kentucky, a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky, Secretary of State of Kentucky, and Governor of Arkansas Territory....
. - Old State Capitol (Kentucky)Old State Capitol (Kentucky)The Old State Capitol , also known as Old Statehouse, was the third Capitol of Kentucky. The building in Frankfort, Kentucky served as the capitol of the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 1830 to 1910. The building has been restored to its American Civil War era appearance.The Kentucky legislature...
(1829) - Jefferson County CourthouseLouisville Metro HallThe Louisville Metro Hall, formerly the Jefferson County Courthouse or Louisville Courthouse, is the center of Louisville, Kentucky's government. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972...
in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, KentuckyLouisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
begun circa 1837, completed 1860 (by Albert FinkAlbert FinkAlbert Fink was a German civil engineer. He is best known for his railroad bridge designs, and devising the Fink truss....
). http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/kentucky/louisville/shryock/cthouse.html - Old Morrison, Transylvania UniversityTransylvania UniversityTransylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
, Lexington, KentuckyLexington, KentuckyLexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
(completed 1834) http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/lexington/olm.htm - Orlando Brown House, Frankfort, Kentucky
Shryock is credited on a Kentucky historical marker as the builder and designer of the important Old Bank of Louisville
Old Bank of Louisville
The Old Bank of Louisville is a National Historic Landmark in Louisville, Kentucky. Completed in 1837, it was made of brick and limestone. Of United States small-scale commercial architecture, it is considered one of the most sophisticated. The narrow downtown lot saw classical idioms adapted to...
, though it was actually designed by architect James Dakin and Shryock superintended the construction of Dakin's design.
Influence
Shryock is cited as the most influential architect in Kentucky from 1827 to 1837. Among his apprentices were John McMurtryJohn McMurtry (architect)
John McMurtry was an 19th century American builder and architect who worked in Lexington, Kentucky designing a number of notable buildings, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
(1812-1890).
Shryock is one of the namesakes of Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Shryock is buried in the Shryock family plot at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.
External links
- Gideon Shryock (1802-1880) research materials (University of LouisvilleUniversity of LouisvilleThe University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
) - Gideon Shryock (1802-1880) from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.
- Architecture of Lexington, Kentucky -- National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary