Introduction

This introductory chapter discusses the architecture known as “follies” and their playful, whimsical presence in the United States as garden structures. In addition to these, many American buildings are follies outside of gardens but can trace their origins to the garden folly. Despite popular denigration of follies, the chapter argues that architectural historians need to take a more serious look at these buildings. There is a need to look beyond the lightheartedness of follies and determine their social and cultural context. The approach here is interdisciplinary, focusing in particular on the literary context and/or storytelling possibilities of these buildings. Furthermore, these buildings often contribute to a narrative either unto themselves or in relation to the garden as a whole.