There is no doubt to one fact; California Missions are the most beautiful among the historical monuments existing in the area. They tell the story of the Native Americans who lived during the eighteenth century. The most important thing Missions era brought is a unique architecture. Given below is an overview of the building materials used by the Spaniards at that time.

California Missions history: Use of Plaster

It is often said; the industry of stucco got its historical significance from the Mission era. In fact, they are the ones who made stucco a unique feature in the buildings constructed in the Southwest America. It still remains to be a mark of the industry.

California Missions history: the humble beginning

Reports say that the Missions had a humble beginning. Remember, they were meant to serve as frontier posts for the Spanish Government. They built tents to live in; with the materials available in the area. They used adobe, stones and ladrillo bricks. Still, the huts they made were better than those built by the tribes.
The homes they built underwent improvement as time went by. And, as the Missions prospered, they began to use materials designed to last long. The following is an overview of the things they used to build shelters at that time.

• Adobe: Adobe bricks may appear rough and local. But, these are the materials which made it possible for the missionaries to build rugged constructions. It is true that they also used other things like stones or burned bricks. But, adobe was the easiest to attain; irrespective of the area they happened to be. These bricks were made by mixing clay, sand and an organic material like straw or animal dung. The straw or dung kept the bricks together when they are left on a wooden piece to dry up in the sun. The wooden piece gave the brick a certain shape. These were used to make rugged roofs for the buildings the missionaries constructed. They gave warmth during winter and made the area cooler in summer.
• Plaster: It is true that adobe made their buildings rugged and offered the protection they required. However, they easily dissolve in water. This drawback got covered up with a coating of plaster on the walls of the buildings. Plaster was made by mixing clay, sand and water in a particular proportion.
• Reeds or willows: These served as roofs for the California Mission sites. These were bound together using rawhide. After some time, these roofs began to be covered by tiles. This protected the sites from fire. The tiles were dry clay. They were arranged on rooftops in such a way that they served two purposes. The water when fallen atop buildings flowed freely through the channel. This protected the buildings and their occupants from the elements of nature.
Do a research on California Missions history http://www.sanluisrey.org/museum/history/ . The results would definitely surprise you beyond words. The Spanish were excellent architects. It is also reported that they learned the designs from Roman patterns. Whatever is the source of information, the skills they acquired got better as time passed by.

Visit http://www.sanluisrey.org/museum/ Old Mission Museum and you will find all needed information on Mission history and heritage. To get more info call 760 757 3651 ext.115 or click on this link http://www.sanluisrey.org/museum/

Contact :
Contact Person: Maureen Sullivan
E-mail: [email protected]
Old Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Address: 4050 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92057-6402
Tel/Fax: (760) 757-3651
Website: http://www.sanluisrey.org/