Roadside Oddities

Architectural Outliers

Erie is home to a surprising collection of buildings that break the rules — octagonal and hexagonal barns, underground homes, a former train station turned residence, churches repurposed into lush indoor gardens, two Quonset houses, a pair of geodesic domes, and the houseboats moored at Presque Isle.

These Architectural Outliers form a quiet network of Erie structures that refuse to blend in — and because of that, they tell some of the city’s most interesting stories.

Houseboats at Presque Isle


Octagonal Structures

Octagonal Barn, Private Land, Middle Road, North East


Churches that are now Residences


Quonset Houses

Hexagon Barn


Hexagon Barn, Scotland Yards, Edinboro

Underground Houses