The National Trust Guide to Art Deco in America by David Gebhard (1996, Paperback, Illustrated)

The Art Deco design revolution of the 1920s and 1930s symbolized the optimism and rapid change of the industrial age—clean lines, dramatic shapes, colorful and ornate surfaces. Art Deco changed the look of everything from ocean liners and passenger trains to toasters and wall clocks; but nowhere was this transformation more dramatic or more lasting than in architecture.

In this comprehensive state-by-state guide, historian and bestselling author David Gebhard leads you on an unforgettable Art Deco tour of the United States. You'll discover treasures large and small, from hotels and office towers to gas stations and movie theaters—even some rare examples of Art Deco single-family houses. Along with the finest works by the leading lights in the movement, you'll find surprising contributions from unsung local architects who brought the delights of Art Deco to far-flung regions. Gebhard's introductory essay supplies historical perspective and clarifies the distinctions between Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, and other popular styles of the day.

Each entry includes the building's street address, a thumbnail history, and a description of the building's main features. With more than 500 entries and well over 200 photos, this is the ultimate Art Deco handbook for architects and architectural historians, designers and preservationists, students, travelers, and armchair adventurers alike.

Industry Reviews
Two distinctive modes of architecture evoke a universal style popularized in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s: Art Deco embodied a colorful, decorative, and geometric look, while the Streamline Moderne style contained a sleeker and more industrial look. Gebhard (Los Angeles: An Architectural Guide, Gibbs Smith, 1994) begins with two brief articles providing an overview of the sources and proponents of these styles. The rest of the book is a travelog that takes a glimpse at more than 500 examples of notable buildings and structures using these design features. The guide is divided into six regional sections and arranged alphabetically by state within each section. Each entry includes the location and date of the structure, the name of the architect or firm, and a brief description of the building or monument. A selected reading list of books and articles concludes the guide. Recommended for larger travel and architecture collections. (Photographs not seen.) Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Breitman

Architects in the 1920s and 1930s wished to "seek out new forms or modifications of old forms to express the continually changing character and accelerated tempo of the new age," David Gebhard states in The National Trust Guide to Art Deco in America. Two of the most famous edifices of this forward-looking movement are the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building in New York City, radiant examples of the art deco and streamline moderne styles. But New York is far from the only place where one may find such architectural gems. Gebhard, who died this year, located sites in each region of the country, by state and city.
Lopate