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I'm planning to get a tattoo of the dome of Mission High School in San Francisco (because it was something that struck me + captured my attention when I was meeting internet friends at Dolores park), so in typical @visakanv fashion I have to learn everything I can about it https://t.co/ZdUKTdmATH

I’m planning to get my first tattoo to commemorate and celebrate that moment. I’ve wanted tattoos for over a decade but could never find anything meaningful enough, anything powerful enough to pull me back into the special world https://t.co/G4SbovQRYB


So, what do we know? Mission is the oldest high school in SF that's still on its original site – since 1896! It gets its name from Mission San Francisco de Asís (or Mission Dolores), which is THE oldest surviving structure in SF. Multiple threads to pull on here... https://t.co/2OqByZNFmS


Let's go with the school. It was originally built "as a three-story brick school designed in the Italian Renaissance Beaux-Arts style". It withstood the 1906 earthquake, but burned down (?) in a 1922 fire. Um, yikes? Sorry to hear that. But it looks way cooler now IMO https://t.co/qzMz5zwBB3


The current building was rebuilt between 1925-1927 in a in a "Mediterranean Revival/Baroque/Churrigueresque" style "during the height of San Francisco's "Golden Age" of school construction". What are all these things?? I don't even know what Baroque really means 😅 Time to learn! https://t.co/uBm1BtmpaB


The Pasadena City Hall is an eg of Mediterranean revival in architecture, and you can see the similarities with the Mission's dome. (TIL you can also see it in the window of Sheldon and Leonard's apartment in The Big Bang Theory, and it's also Parks & Rec's Pawnee City Hall) https://t.co/V1WXTfQyGs


"Churrigueresque" is named after one guy, José Benito de Churriguera (1665–1725), who was born in Madrid and designed some churches there. Here are some things that seem to be "Churrigueresque" – It's more complex ofc, but you get the vibe. "Supreme order" https://t.co/oR2mFYUQ8t


I feel like circling back – this is cool context but not exactly what I'm curious about. I guess I'm more curious about domes in general. What's up with domes? "The precise definition has been a matter of controversy." Seems like people like domes, I wonder what's up with that https://t.co/Ef7aoNVPh3


some etymology I suppose it's funny and interesting that I'm getting a tattoo of something that has slightly religious connotations when I'm not particularly religious. I guess I'll frame it as "religion-specific domes are a subset of the human fascination with domes in general" https://t.co/O3zEvArPca


the interiors of domes often have a certain surreal, psychedelic, awe-inspiring quality, which is surely a desired effect https://t.co/Tw6F1gPUOA


more pics for future reference https://t.co/yfHer3Mh2o








