Mission San Gabriel

By Mark Bradley

Enthusiasts of the Spanish revival style of architecture continue to be inspired by the Mission San Gabriel in California as another example of one of their amazing missions. It is believed that the Paleo-Indians crossed into America by means of Asia on the land bridge called Beringia. This is estimated to have taken place about 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 bigger 6-bell structure was then moved to compensate for the ruptured campanario. While no pictorial record exists to document what the original structure looked like, architectural historian Rexford Newcomb deduced the design and published a depiction in his 1916 work The Franciscan Mission Architecture of Alta California.

Why do are we covering on the subject matter, and how does it correlate to our comprehension of the Spanish Revival style of architecture? The account of Mission San Gabriel makes it clear that the missions of California have withstood many chaotic periods. Some of these missions are now only mere shadows of what they once were.

This makes an captivating proposition because it reveals how the Revival style is merely a copy of a copy, as the missions are also in this state. Although we recognize that we are only seeing a sliver of its old stature, it doesn't reduce our lure to this style. People in California and over the entire nation, are using the architectural appearances of this style to build not only their homes but also their civic establishments. These buildings are some of the same historic real estate you may see for sale today.

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. - 32183

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