INTRODUCTION TO PERIOD STYLES: During the late 1800s, European-trained architects designed highstyle period houses for the wealthy. Each period style identifies specifically with an architecture of an earlier period and place: either early American or European precedents. Several popular period styles are included on these web sites, though other, less common period styles also appeared. During this time (mostly between 1900 and 1929), accuracy of styles became important once again, unlike Queen Anne style, which borrowed from a variety of sources. Most Important, period styles look to the past for inspiration. The trend toward period architecture gained momentum from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the Columbian Exposition, where historical interpretations of European styles were encouraged. Simultaneous to the rise of period-style architecture, the modern era saw its beginnings with architects who were instead looking to the future, not the past, with more progressive, modernist styles. Thus defines the eclectic movement of the early 20th century, which consisted of a simultaneous and perhaps competing interest in both modern and historic architectural traditions.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND FEATURES: The Mission style originated in southern California and was the first style to diffuse eastward from the West. The style was considered the "California counterpart" to the Georgian-inspired Colonial Revival popular in Northeast. Most famously, the style was adopted by both the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railways for train stations, resort hotels, and other rail corridor buildings, essentially as an effort to "theme" the Southwest for eastern travelers. The style includes Mission-shaped dormers and/or roof parapet; wide, overhanging eaves, exposed rafters, red-tiled roof, stucco walls, arched windows/doors on ground level.

PHOTO LOCATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS (based on info available)

1. Las Vegas, NM. Castenada Hotel, a former "Harvey House" along the AT&SF Railway.
2. Kingman, AZ. AT&SF Railway depot.
3. Las Vegas, NM. AT&SF Railway depot, with the Web site author posing for his wife.
4. Santa Fe, NM. AT&SF Railway Depot.
5. Clarkdale, AZ. School building.
6. Vero Beach, FL. Mission-revival commercial building downtown, c. 1928. Could also be interpreted as Spanish Revival.
7. Hollywood, CA.
8, 9. Redlands, CA. The mission-style Smiley Public Library. The central tower (campanile) hints at a mixture of Italian Renaissance style as well.
10, 11. Albuquerque, NM. New Transportation Center and Amtrak station, replicating the architecture of the razed Alvarado Harvey House Hotel.
12. St. Augustine, FL.
13-14. Durango, CO. Two variants of the mission-style parapet on the roof line.
15-18. Ajo, AZ.
19. Los Angeles, CA.
20. Los Angeles, CA. Union Station, c.1939. The last of the great American train stations constructed.