The Spanish Mission style of architecture is one of the most beautiful styles in the United States. It is the most unique mix of old world Spain, South American and North American influences. This style is found in various places in the United States, but nowhere is it more prominent than on the West coast in California. There are a few other places across the nation that provide great examples, like the P.T. Barnett building in St. Louis.

The original style was created in the west by Spanish ?padres? trying to emulate the style that they remembered from their homeland in Spain. There's a strong Roman influence on the Spanish mission style, especially in the shape of the arch and dome. At Mission Santa Barbara founding Father Ripali even went so far as to consult the works of 1st century B.C Roman architect Vitruvius during the design phase of the project.

Not only are the arches, domes and vaults greatly influenced by Roman buildings, but the missions are of course greatly influenced by the architecture of Spain. The church belfry was one of the most important elements of the mission, and there were four distinct types. The basic belfry was simply a bell hanging from a beam supported by two posts. This was stationed at one side of the main entrance of the church.

The second type of belfry was the famous version hung at the end of the church, gently curved and decorated and adding a more impressive fa?ade to the building. Even more famous was the third kind, with its large tower holding one or more bells. This was usually a domed structure, with perhaps lanterns aloft. Finally, there were the wall-hanging bells. These would be walls cut in sanctuary type configurations.

The long arcades of the missions were of particular importance in the design, which flanked the interior and exterior walls. The arches were Roman in style. The most important part of the mission was the chapel, and the design followed that of Christian churches of the day, with the choir aloft. Decorations for these chapels were studied from books and applied by native artists. The paintings show the flavor of the Spanish era, and a bit of the native feel of Indian artists.

This Spanish mission style expanded to influence the design of a number of buildings in California, as well as across the nation. I already mentioned the P.T. Barnett Mission-Style Art Deco building in St. Louis, and that provides a great example of many styles colliding and forming into one unique, gorgeous style of architecture that is all its own. That building was built in the 1920's, when architects began to take elements of the past and combine them with elements from their time that were all the rage.

What more modern Spanish style buildings steal from the old mission style is the elegant economy that they've come to represent in their style. They speak of an old-world colonial charm that is uniquely American, and building that are still designed with that aesthetic in mind are often very comforting, beautiful establishments.