There is something about the holidays that makes one think of Victorian houses, those gingerbread-style confections of multi-colored gables, towers, and spires that look like they could be home to Mr. and Mrs. Claus. It was during the Victorian era (1837 to 1901) that Los Angeles transformed from a small, dusty Mexican outpost into a Gilded Age American boom town. Thousands of homes were built during this time, and though many were lost, the structures we've mapped here survive. They are a testament to the wide variety of Victorian architectural styles—from the Far East- and past-obsessed Moorish Revival and Richardson Romanesque to the Arts and Crafts-inspired Foursquare and Eastlake movements. There are also several brilliant examples of exuberant Queen Anne-style houses. These ornate confections practically look good enough to eat!
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