A combination of simple theory and experiment is used to investigated a complex structural problem. The problem is the point loading of hyperbolic paraboloidal shells. The solution is based on an analogy between the response of these shells to a point load and the localized behavior of a flat plate that rests on an elastic foundation. The subgrade modulus of this analogous foundation is derived from the measured deflection of a point load on shell models. The value of the modulus was found to be about one-fifth that of a spherical shell with the same magnitude of principal curvature.