The gambrel roof style is associated with colonial architecture—particularly Dutch colonial architecture. Early Dutch settlers in New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and western Connecticut built homes that reflected their Dutch culture. Later, by the late 19th century, Americans began to look back romantically on their colonial roots. This nostalgia began to be reflected in American colonial revival architecture. Within this colonial revival, one of the more popular designs was a redux of the original Dutch colonial. This design provided the advantage of a sloped roof, while maximizing head space.