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Alameda is rife with buildings from the time of Queen Victoria, whose era in history coincides with her reign, 1834-1901. When she died, the Prince of Wales tottered onto the throne of England. As King Edward VII he died in 1910, lending his name to the Edwardian era. A felicitous amalgam of abundant material, temperate climate, and mill-working machinery to mass produce house embellishment has left the Island City awash in vintage properties. More than 4,000 specimens are classified by construction dates as Victorian or Edwardian, according to extensive documentation by Alameda Museum Curator George Gunn.

With the hindsight of history, we sort those buildings into distinct architectural styles: Italianate, Stick, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival are the most numerous. The differences among styles can bewilder, but help is on the way! Author Paul Duchscherer will elucidate with mouth-watering slides from his book Victorian Glory, next up in the Alameda Museum's 10th year of lectures on local history. His volume includes ravishing images of Victorian- and Edwardian- era homes, concentrating on properties that are open to the public, including Alameda's Meyers House.

Duchscherer is a veteran of the architectural lecture circuit. Under the spell of wallpaper guru Bruce Bradbury, he spent nine years as director of design services for Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers in Benicia.

In a slide extravaganza presented during his time at B & B, Duchscherer flung a gauntlet in the path of Pasadena historian Robert Winter and challenged him to a debate called "The Battle of the Styles."

The two experts dueled with slides instead of pistols. Duchscherer was at his over-the-top best, defending the moral superiority of delirious Victorian excess over the conservative, dull, and overly refined Arts & Crafts style.

Share his fascination next Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. in the art gallery at the Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave. (near Park Street.) There are no reserved seats; so come early and bring a cushion. Free for museum members; $10 for others. Harbor Bay Realtors Erik and Ginger Schuler are underwriting this presentation.

Learn more at 748-0796.