Shryock, Gideon, 1802-1880

Shryock was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1802. His parents were Mathias and Mary Elizabeth Shryock. Gideon Shryock apprenticed with his father, who was a contractor and builder, then studied for a year in Philadelphia with the famous architect, William Strickland. In 1824 Shryock returned to Kentucky and opened an office in Lexington. The following year, the state's second Capitol building went up in flames just as its predecessor had and plans were requested for a new building. Shryock originally did not plan to compete for the award due to his youth and inexperience but eventually did so and won the commission. He moved to Frankfort in 1827 and remained three years to supervise its construction of the capitol. In 1829 he married Elizabeth P. Bacon of Frankfort. After completing the state house, Shryock returned to Lexington where he designed and supervised construction of Morrison Hall (or "Old Morrison") on the campus of Transylvania University. The Doric-style building was finished in 1833, delayed by the cholera epidemic that claimed the life of the architect's father. It burned in 1863. Among other noteworthy Shryock projects were the Arkansas state house; the Franklin County Courthouse; the Orlando Brown house; and the Jefferson County Courthouse. Shryock moved to Louisville in 1835 and remained there until his death in 1880.

From the description of Gideon Shryock papers, 1823-1954. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 41137632

Gideon Shryock, architect, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1802. He apprenticed with architect William Strickland of Philadelphia from 1823-24 and returned to Kentucky as its first native-born, professionally-trained architect. After the statehouse in Frankfort burned, Shryock's design for the new building, modeled on the temple of Minerva Polias at Priene, was chosen by the legislature in 1827. The building, completed in 1830, was the first Greek Revival statehouse in the United States. Shryock remained Kentucky's most prominent architect for the next ten years. He died in 1880 and was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.

From the description of Gideon Shryock letter, 1833 Feb. 15. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 39100102