Is the term "Victorian" used in America or Canada?

I have seen this (heard this) a couple of times in shows (once a house was even called "a Victorian), but it doesnt make much sense to me, and seemed out of place.

If you live in America or Canada, have you ever heard the term in general use to refer to things or events from your own history relating to the period of history Victoria was Queen of Britain??

I mean, I can understand an American saying "Victorian London", but I couldnt understand someone calling a house built in New York in 1880 "Victorian"...

 

All the time, in reference to certain cultural features that match the time period-particularly architecture. Of course, this has always been in the parts of America that predate the civil war.

I don't really think it has much to do with Queen Victoria except the timing coincidence provided a useful term to co-opt.

 

There is a McDonald's in the middle of Pennsylvania that says that it has a "Victorian Dining Room."

Not sure what it means and I wasn't eager enough to eat me some delicious mystery meat to find out.

 

Maybe it's something like this

Credit: Jetee
[Gallery of Interest] Food as Art | The TFP

 

Queen Victoria had quite an influence on Canada. We still celebrate her birthday with fireworks every May 24th.

You can find Victorian era homes in Canada, you can also find Edwardian era homes. As Baraka_Guru points out, these are eras. While it might be odd to classify things in the US by British royalty, it isn't a stretch in Canada. The Queen is still our head of state and her likeness is still on our money.

 

Primarily have heard it used regarding houses. Lots of gingerbread and several colors. Smallish rooms.

Several examples on teh google
victorian house - Google Search

Have also heard it refer to morals. None of which would fit in here.

 

This is what most people were referring to specifically where I grew up. Williamsport, with its 30,000 or so people was the 'city' to my small town home.



These homes are from the late 19th century when Williamsport was in the middle of a lumber boom and, local legend has it, contained more millionaires per capita than any place on earth. Most of the homes are rentals for college kids now the there are few are businesses. I also saw the YWCA sneak in there.

Not an urban legend is that my Dad or myself or the combination put on a few of the roofs that you see in the video.

 

You hear about "Victorian" homes all the time on HGTV and DIY, both television stations heavily into fixing-up old homes and rooms.

I'm also familiar with the term in reading the genre in romances. (A guilty pleasure of mine.)
Unlike Baraka_Guru, I am a fan of some Victorian era literature, not just the romances.

 

I am currently renovating my victorian house, and the black mortar gets everywhere, I just pulled down my lathe and plaster ceiling to put a stairs up to the attic and I am convinced I now have miners lung.

It's always fun pulling something away or down in my house as you find the weirdest wallpaper, old coins or newspapers under rafters.

Or gas light pipes that are still 'live' under the floorboards, that was scary.