Federal-style architecture, with its restrained grace and Classic Roman references, may not be representative of the New Orleans aesthetic. However, architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe’s Louisiana State Bank is a local landmark that reflects the straightforward geometry, plain surfaces and fine detail of the Federal style. Note the elegant, slightly pitched beams over the second-story windows and the narrow arched dormers. Slender wrought-iron balconies extend just far enough to allow the parting of casement shutters to peek out and wave hello. The influence of this style can be observed in many town houses in the French Quarter. Simply patterned cornices commonly found on cottages often represent a Federal influence.
