Architecture buffs and decorators will enjoy visiting these 25 noteworthy American houses, selected partly because they are open to the public. What at first glance appears to be a coffee-table title turns out to be a useful guide to the various architectural styles of the American home, replete with floor plans for each dwelling and schematic diagrams that point out representative architectural characteristics of the style in question. Each chapter also includes a tour of the interior of its house, with significant illustrations of interior detail highlighted. About half the homes are located in the Northeast, and most of the rest can be found east of the Mississippi; Monticello is arguably the most famous house represented. Rounding out the book is a section explaining how to arrange a visit to any of these splendid residences.