Mission - San José

CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK #334

Mission San José was founded on June 11, 1797 by Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen on a site which was part of a natural highway by way of the Livermore Valley to the San Joaquin Valley.

It was the fourteenth of the 21 Spanish Missions that were established in Alta California.

The current church which was rebuilt in 1985 and is an authentic replica of the original, that had been destroyed by 1868.

This statue of San Antonio de Padua was salvaged from the rubble after the church was destroyed in an  1868 earthquake, reportedly by a child.  It was returned to the mission during the 1985 restoration.

 

Every mission that I have visited has unique displays and Mission San Jose is no exception.  One room was filled with maps and information about the Ohlone in the area.

In addition to artifacts from the mission,  there is  large collection of paintings and models of the mission.  You will find documents having to do with the property.  There are also a number of maps of the mission system. 

 

Walking through a graveyard, filled mainly with Hispanic names, I happened on one that couldn't help but catch my attention.

 

Mission San José 43300 Mission Blvd. Fremont

Mission San José - Wikipedia

California Mission Foundation - San José

More Pictures

Mission - San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo

CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK # 135 /Royal Presidio Chapel #105   #66000214

Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo
1882 Isaiah West Taber #118

Founded on 3 June 1770, Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo, the 2nd Alta California Mission,  was the headquarters of all Alta California Missions until 1803.   It was the personal favorite of Fra. Junipero Serra who was buried there following his death in 1784.

His dying wish, the Basilica was completed in 1797 by his successor Father Fermín Lasuén. 

With Mexican secularization in 1834 the mission was virtually abandoned for 30 years and was in a state of disrepair.  Today it is considered one of the most authentically restored missions in California.  However, with the current restoration work going on in other missions that might be contest.

The mission grounds are open to all.  The museum was filled with interesting displays and artifacts. 

 It appears to be a very active parish today.  I visited on a Sunday and the church was standing room only. 


3080 Rio Road, Carmel, CA 93923

 

• San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
• Map and Guide
• Carmel Mission - NPS.gov
• Historic Carmel Mission - See Monterey.com
• Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo   Wikipedia
• California Missions Foundation

MORE PICTURES

SMCP - Sanchez Adobe

A visit to the Sanchez Adobe was another San Mateo County Parks Foundation outing.  Today the adobe, which was built by Francisco Sanchez between 1842 and 1846 is a San Mateo County Park run by the San Mateo County History Association.





The site of the adobe was originally, the village of Pruristac, a settlement of the Ramaytush band of the Ohlone people.

 In 1786 the Spanish, Mission Dolores, in San Francisco, which had absorbed many of the Ohlone in the area, established  San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia, to promote missionary work and by farming to provide food for the main mission. The farming effort was soon abandoned, however, cattle ranching continued until the demise of the mission system in 1834.

The Mexican Government granted the land to Francisco Sanchez the 8th Alcade of San Francisco.

The adobe was purchased by Edward Kirkpatrick in 1871.  He did extensive remodeling. Later lives included a time as the Adobe House, a hotel, and as a speakeasy during the depression.







The museum on the site today, offers a view of items from throughout its history.  A new nature center was being planned when I visited and I believe it has now been opened.

It's a great place for an afternoon outing

\


Sanchez Adobe - SMCHA

Sanchez Adobe - SMCP

Sanchez Adobe - Wikipedia

More Pictures

Misión la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz

CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK # 342  76000530  

A visit to the mission in Santa Cruz requires two stops at the top of Mission Hill.  The first to the church finds a 1/3 size replica of the original mission which was destroyed in 1857 and the second to the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park where there are magnificent views from the gardens.

Santa Cruz, the 12th California Mission, was founded on the bluff in 1791 by President Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuén and founding missionaries Frs. Isídro Salazar and Balamero López.  The Awaswas triblet of the Costanoans were the earliest of the neophytes.  They were later joined by Yokuts and other Costanoans.

The church is still a Catholic church and is popular for local marriages





The State Historic park features the only original building left. The single story adobe which was built between 1822 and 1824 was originally about twice the size it is now.  It provided housing for the neophytes.

When the mission system was secularized in 1834 the neophytes left, either abandoning the rooms or selling them to Californios.





Today the building is home to exhibits that tell the story of the early mission and it's residents through the years including the neophytes, the Californios and others.  Be sure to pick up the self-guided tour brochure in the gift shop before starting.

California Mission State Historic Park
California Missions - Santa Cruz
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks  Lorenzo Asisara remembers a story told him by his father in 1818 in Reminiscences.

Mission - San Antonio de Padua

CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK # 232

Each of the missions I've visited has some wonderful new thing to see.  San Antonio de Padua, probably the furthest off the beaten path, situated a little over twenty miles west of 101 had a great museum. The arrangement allowed easy viewing and there were many unique items, including a    When the wine was ready it would be drained through that hole you see.





San Antonio Padua was established in 1771 by Father Serra, the 3rd mission in the system.  It was run by Franciscan priests until 2005 when it was taken over by the Diocese of Monterey.

It is still an active church, albeit with a tiny community.  It is also open for individual and group retreats.






It is definitely in the boonies, but well worth the trip.  Be aware that your GPS might not know the way after a certain point so you might want to look at a map before you go.

There was also a great gift shop.  Artists have placed their wares on consignment, which allows a much better collection that could be maintained if the items had to be purchased.  It's a great place to stock up for next seasons gifts!

More Pictures 

• Mission San Antonio de Padua website
• Mission San Antonio de Padua - Wikipedia
• California Through My Lens
• See Monterey

Mission - San Miguel Arcángel

CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK # 326                                                          #71000191

Another trip to San Luis Obispo gave me a chance to visit two missions. 

On the way down I stopped at San Miguel Arcángel which was established by Padre Buenaventura Sitjar in 1797, on a bluff overlooking the Rio de Monterey (later renamed the Salinas River). 

The original simple church was destroyed by fire in 1806.  The plan and preparation of a new church took ten years.  Construction started in 1816 and was completed in 1818.  

San Miguel is the only mission church that still has the original frescoes on the walls.  Unlike most frescoes they were painted on dry plaster walls by Monterey artist Don Esteban Munras and completed by members of the Salinan Tribe under his direction in 1821.

I visited on January 6th, the Epiphany, so the Christmas decorations were still up.  It was absolutely lovely.

If you visit don't forget to venture down the Shepherd's Walk, there is a great collection of interesting old tools.  For that matter don't skip anything, from the museum at the beginning to the gardens to the priests quarters, it is all beautifully put together and very informative.

 MORE PICTURES

 Mission San Miguel - History
1775 Mission St, San Miguel CA 93451
info@missionsanmiguel.org

Mission San Miguel - Wikipedia
Mission San Miguel - California Mission Foundation
Mission San Miguel - National Park Service

M - CSP - San Juan Bautista State Historic Park

CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK #195      

#69000038    

Over the years, we visited Mission San Juan Bautista a few times, but when I looked I couldn't find any pictures.

In June 2018, I visited Family Threads in San Juan Bautista as part of Shop Hop by the Bay and decided to visit the mission to get some pictures.  The quilt store was a treasure, I will definitely be stopping on the way home from Sean's now and again!  ( Family Threads Quilt Shop, 107 D The Alameda #1203, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 - (831_ 623-0200)  Be sure to check for hours before visiting. 

The mission was founded in June of 1797, with the cornerstone of the current church being laid in 1803.  The old mission website has an interesting history of the building.

Across from the mission lies San Juan Bautista State Historic Park, where you find yourself in the middle of the old town square with many of the buildings available to tour.

San Juan Bautista is well worth making a day trip for park, mission and quilt shop!!

Old Mission San Juan Bautista

San Juan Bautista - Historic Park

Mission San Juan Bautista - Wikipedia

Mission San Juan Bautista - California Mission Resource Center

Mission - Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK #233

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was founded 9 Oct 1791, the thirteenth mission,  by Fermín Francisco de Lasuén.  It was named for Our Lady of Sorrows (Solitude).





Located not far off 101 near the town of Soledad, this mission seems completely isolated.  When the missions were secularized it became part of a Rancho and eventually lay in ruins.





With the help of the Native Daughters of the Golden West it was restored and the new chapel dedicated in 1955.







I visited on a misty January afternoon and found only one other person and one employee on the site....a great way to be able to wander unimpeded.

The Mission Soledad  Restoration Project has hopes of restoring the mission to what it was in its heyday.






36641 Fort Romi Road
Soledad, California 93960

CA State Landmark #233

36641 Romie Road
Soledad, CA 93960
831-678-2586

Open Daily 1-4 (except major holidays)

• Nuestra Señora de la Soledad - Official Site
• Nuestra Señora de la Soledad - Wikipedia



Plan of Mission located in Mission Museum

• Nuestra Señora de la Soledad - Images on Calisphere

 Pictures in Dropbox

Model of Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad
in the Mission Museum