The Mission Revival style Cooper Mansion in Laramie, Wyoming. Frank Cooper came to Wyoming in the 1870s from Britian and purchased a 5,400-acre ranch. He was an early developer of freezing and shipping beef by rail among other business interests. In 1904, he sold the ranch, retaining mineral rights, and returned to England. Cooper died shortly after oil was discovered on his former ranch in 1917. His three children moved to Laramie in 1920 to secure their rights to the oil and commissioned local architect Wilber Hitchcock to design this house.
Houses built in romantic styles were coming back into fashion in the early 20th century, having had a previous period of popularity in the mid-19th century. Many romantic and fanciful houses of this period were in the Tudor Revival style and related variations, but others looked to American history for their inspiration. The Mission Revival style was among them, borrowing the forms, materials, and details of Spanish Colonial Missions and native pueblo dwellings in the Southwest. Many of these houses were clad in stucco with clay tile roofs and arched openings, as seen here.
Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” explores 25 styles and types with character-defining features keyed to hundreds of color photos.
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© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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