Mission San Gabriel
The Mission San Gabriel in California provides another example of a wonderful mission in California that continues to inspire enthusiasts of the Spa...
The Mission San Gabriel in California provides another example of a wonderful mission in California that continues to inspire enthusiasts of the Spanish revival style of architecture. People theorize that the Paleo-Indians entered America via Asia on the land bridge called Beringia. This probably took place 15,000 to 35,000 years ago.
The San Gabriel Mission which was founded in September 1771 on a planned site in Montebello, California. The Mission was located on a tract of lush plain along the Rio Hondo that is present day Montebello. Regrettably, the Mission was suffered loss as a result of a flood in 1776. It was re-established 5 miles away in what is present day San Gabriel. From Mission San Gabriel, the pueblo was sent out and over time they founded Los Angeles.
Montebello, California was the planned site for the San Gabriel Mission which was founded in September 1771. It was located on a parcel of fertile plain along the Rio Hondo, which is present day Montebello. Unfortunately, the Mission was damaged by a flood in 1776. It was rebuilt 5 miles away in what is present day San Gabriel. It is from Mission San Gabriel, that the pueblo was sent and in time founded Los Angeles. During the 1812 earthquakes that shook the entire foundation of California, harm came upon the exterior architecture of the mission. This historical building suffered damage to its famous bell. The mission housed a three-bell campanario that was located near the chapel’s east faade, which fully collapsed and was destroyed.
The Mission’s larger 6-bell structure was then moved to balance the ruptured campanario. Although no illustrative record exists to document what the original bell looked like, an inferred design was published in the 1916 work The Franciscan Mission Architecture of Alta California by architectural historian Rexford Newcomb.
Why do we discuss all this, and how does it apply to our understanding of the Spanish Revival style of architecture? Well, the history of Mission San Gabriel makes it clear that the missions of California have weathered a lot of storms, and some are only mere copies of what they once were.
This makes an interesting point because it shows that in many ways the missions themselves are copies of what they once were, and the Revival style is merely a copy of a copy. Even though we know this, it doesn’t dampen our fascination with this style. People still today in California and all over the nation are using the architectural vocabulary of this style to build their homes and civic establishments.
A lovely Spanish Revival building example is in St. Louis by the architect T.P. Barnett. Barnett was the son of George I. Barnett, who was also a renowned architect in St. Louis. The T.P. Barnett building is primarily appealing because it also has Art Deco influences. This makes it one of the most one of a kind buildings in the Grand Center region of St. Louis. Undoubtedly, this a historic building that you definitely must see the next time you’re in St. Louis. This magnificent construction of the Spanish Revival buildings is located on Washington Avenue.
Art Deco and Spanish Mission Style Architecture is part of some of the classic buildings of Missouri. To download the original plans of the or go here to find out more about