Spanish Mission Revival or Pueblo Style
Mission Revival style—also called California Mission or simply Mission takes its character from the Spanish Franciscan mission churches of the Southwestern US. It is especially well adapted to warm climate areas like California and the deserts. Its popularity was fueled by the success of Arthur Page Brown's California State Building shown at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The style was subsequently adopted by Santa Fe Railway for its train stations. Other creative boosters sought to distinguish Southwestern regional architecture by creating Mission style resorts and public buildings for tourists. Originating in the West, Mission style was popular from about 1900 to 1940. Though most popular in California and the desert Southwest, the style diffused from West to East instead of vice versa with many fine examples occurring throughout the country.
The style is quite simple with covered archways and half-rounded windows, smooth stucco walls that mimic the adobe walls of the Spanish missions, and flat or shallow sloped tile roofs. Towers and roof parapets are often found, Extended roofs may form covered arcades with large square pillars or columns—a feature that allows building interiors to remain relatively cool in hot climates.
The style is quite simple with covered archways and half-rounded windows, smooth stucco walls that mimic the adobe walls of the Spanish missions, and flat or shallow sloped tile roofs. Towers and roof parapets are often found, Extended roofs may form covered arcades with large square pillars or columns—a feature that allows building interiors to remain relatively cool in hot climates.
Photos by Ms. Sheri Barfield, ALERT teacher
Mission Style Elements:
- Simple, smooth stucco or plaster siding
- Broad, overhanging eaves
- Exposed rafters
- Either hipped or gabled tile roof
- Roof parapets
- Large square pillars
- Twisted columns
- Arched entry and windows
- Covered walkways or arcades
- Round or quatrefoil window
- Restrained decorative elements usually consisting of tile, iron, and wood
Mission and Pueblo Revival Bibliography
"1890 - 1920: Mission Revival House Style." About.com Architecture. About.com, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. <http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ig/House-Styles/mission-724232.htm>.
Baker, John Milnes. American House Styles: A Concise Guide. New York: W.W. Norton, 1994. Print.
Blumenson, John J G. Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms, 1600-1945.
Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1977. N. Print.
Craven, Jackie. "Architecture Inspired by Spain." About.com Architecture. About.com, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. <http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ss/spanishrevival.htm>.
Craven, Jackie. "The Spanish Eclectic House Style." About.com Architecture. About.com, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. <http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ss/spanishrevival_2.htm>.
Massey, James C., and Shirley Maxwell. House Styles in America: The Old-house Journal Guide to the
Architecture of American Homes. New York, NY: Penguin Studio, 1996. Print.
McAlester, Virginia, and A. Lee McAlester. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Knopf, 1984. Print.
"Mission Revival." Architecture. Antique Home, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. http://www.antiquehome.org/Architectural-Style/mission.htm.
Rifkind, Carole. A Field Guide to American Architecture. New York: New American Library, 1980. Print.
"Spanish Revival Architecture of the 20th Century." Spanish Revival Architecture. Antique Home, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. <http://www.antiquehome.org/Architectural-Style/spanish-revival.htm>.
Van, Buren Maurie. House Styles at a Glance: An Illustrated Guide. Atlanta, GA: Longstreet, 1991. Print.
Walker, Les. American Shelter: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Home. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 1981. Print.
"1890 - 1920: Mission Revival House Style." About.com Architecture. About.com, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. <http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ig/House-Styles/mission-724232.htm>.
Baker, John Milnes. American House Styles: A Concise Guide. New York: W.W. Norton, 1994. Print.
Blumenson, John J G. Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms, 1600-1945.
Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1977. N. Print.
Craven, Jackie. "Architecture Inspired by Spain." About.com Architecture. About.com, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. <http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ss/spanishrevival.htm>.
Craven, Jackie. "The Spanish Eclectic House Style." About.com Architecture. About.com, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. <http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ss/spanishrevival_2.htm>.
Massey, James C., and Shirley Maxwell. House Styles in America: The Old-house Journal Guide to the
Architecture of American Homes. New York, NY: Penguin Studio, 1996. Print.
McAlester, Virginia, and A. Lee McAlester. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Knopf, 1984. Print.
"Mission Revival." Architecture. Antique Home, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. http://www.antiquehome.org/Architectural-Style/mission.htm.
Rifkind, Carole. A Field Guide to American Architecture. New York: New American Library, 1980. Print.
"Spanish Revival Architecture of the 20th Century." Spanish Revival Architecture. Antique Home, n.d. Web. 8 July 2013. <http://www.antiquehome.org/Architectural-Style/spanish-revival.htm>.
Van, Buren Maurie. House Styles at a Glance: An Illustrated Guide. Atlanta, GA: Longstreet, 1991. Print.
Walker, Les. American Shelter: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Home. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 1981. Print.