During the 19th century, cast iron changed the face of many U.S. cities and the new buildings that marked their growth. Spearheaded by architect and engineer James Bogardus, cast iron façades became a common architectural element for commercial and public buildings throughout the growing country.

Less expensive to build with than carved stone, cast iron was used for its strength, structural stability, durability and ability to be cast in almost any shape. Bogardus championed metalcasting, insisting the industry was compatible with the popular concepts of prefabrication, mass production and interchangeable parts.In 1849, he created the first structure using cast iron self-supporting walls. It featured two street façades that consisted of Doric-style columns, panels, sills and plates, which were cast individually, machined smooth and bolted together at the building site. The four-story, cast-iron structure was built in two months.

As the process caught on, cast-iron façades were used throughout the country. Seen in New York City, Baltimore(shown below), Philadelphia, Louisville, La., Milwaukee, Richmond, Va., and Galveston, Texas, they are testaments to a time of economic and urban growth in the U.S. Although many examples have been torn down in redevelopment projects, the remaining architectural gems stand firm in charm and character. MC

Photo by Gian Marco Valente, Dreamstime.com