Mission History Mission San Juan Capistrano

1 mission history

1.1 indigenous peoples
1.2 mission period (1769–1833)
1.3 rancho period (1834–1849)
1.4 california statehood (1850–1900)
1.5 20th century , beyond (since 1901)

mission history
indigenous peoples


pre-contact acjachemen built cone-shaped huts made of willow branches covered brush or mats made of tule leaves. known kiichas (or wikiups), temporary shelters utilized sleeping or refuge in cases of inclement weather. when dwelling reached end of practical life burned, , replacement erected in place in day s time.

the natives ate acorns turned soups, cakes , bread.

the territorial boundaries of southern california indian tribes based on dialect, including cahuilla, cupeño, diegueño, gabrieliño, juaneño (highlighted), , luiseño language groups.

the former spanish settlement @ sajavit lies within area occupied during late paleoindian period , continuing on present day native american society commonly known juaneño; name denotes people ministered priests @ mission san juan capistrano. many contemporary juaneño, identify descendents of indigenous society living in local san juan , san mateo creek drainage areas, have adopted indigenous term acjachemen. language related luiseño language spoken nearby luiseño tribe.

the acjachemen territory extended las pulgas creek in northern san diego county san joaquin hills along orange county s central coast, , inland pacific ocean santa ana mountains. bulk of population occupied outlets of 2 large creeks, san juan creek (and major tributary, trabuco creek) , san mateo creek (combined arroyo san onofre, drained ocean @ same point). highest concentration of villages along lower san juan, mission san juan capistrano situated , preserved today. acjachemen resided in permanent, well-defined villages , seasonal camps. village populations ranged between 35 , 300 inhabitants, consisting of single lineage in smaller villages, , of dominant clan joined other families in larger settlements.

each clan had own resource territory , politically independent; ties other villages maintained through economic, religious, , social networks in immediate region. elite class (composed chiefly families, lineage heads, , other ceremonial specialists), middle class (established , successful families), , people of disconnected or wandering families , captives of war comprised 3 hierarchical social classes. native leadership consisted of nota, or clan chief, conducted community rites , regulated ceremonial life in conjunction council of elders (puuplem), made of lineage heads , ceremonial specialists in own right. body decided upon matters of community, carried out nota , underlings. while placement of residential huts in village not regulated, ceremonial enclosure (vanquech) , chief s home centrally located.

relatively known native inhabitants in recent centuries, in part efforts of spanish explorer juan rodríguez cabrillo, documented observations of life in coastal villages encountered along southern california coast in october 1542. fray gerónimo boscana, franciscan scholar stationed @ san juan capistrano more decade beginning in 1812, compiled considered comprehensive study of prehistoric religious practices in san juan capistrano valley. religious knowledge secret, , prevalent religion, called chinigchinich, placed village chiefs in position of religious leaders, arrangement gave chiefs broad power on people. boscana divided acjachemen 2 classes: playanos (who lived along coast) , serranos (who inhabited mountains, 3 4 leagues mission). religious beliefs of 2 groups related creation differed quite profoundly. playanos held all-powerful , unseen being called nocuma brought earth , sea, of trees, plants, , animals of sky, land, , water contained therein. serranos, on other hand, believed in 2 separate related existences: existence above , existence below. these states of being altogether explicable , indefinite (like brother , sister), , fruits of union of these 2 entities created ...the rocks , sands of earth; trees, shrubbery, herbs , grass; animals . in 1908, noted cultural anthropologist alfred l. kroeber published following observations regard juaneño religious observances:

we know adore large bird similar kite, raise greatest of care time young, , hold many errors regarding it.

when new moon shows make great outcry, manifests interest ( negosijo ). if there eclipse of sun or of moon, shout still louder outcries, beating ground, skins, or mats sticks, shows concerns , uneasiness.

mission period (1769–1833)

juan crespí, member of 1769 spanish portolà expedition, authored first written account of interaction between europeans , indigenous population in region today makes orange county. expedition arrived @ site northeast, traveling down san juan creek, , camped near future mission site on july 23. @ time, crespi named campsite after santa maria magdalena (though come called arroyo de la quema , cañada del incendio, wildfire hollow ).

in 1775, don antonio maría de bucareli y ursúa, viceroy of new spain, authorized establishment of mission @ logical halfway point between mission san diego de alcalá , mission san gabriel arcángel. time, site known name of patron saint, san juan capistrano .

up south slow filed train,

priests , soldiers of old spain,

who, through sunlit lomas wound

with cross , lance, intent found

a mission in wild john

soldier-saint of capistran.

at proposed site, located approximately 26 leguas (spanish leagues) north of san diego, 18 leagues south of san gabriel, , half league pacific ocean, enramada (arbor) constructed, 2 bronze bells hung branch of nearby tree, , wooden cross erected. grounds consecrated fermín lasuén of mission san carlos borromeo de carmelo on october 30, 1775 (the last day of octave after feast of san juan capistrano), near indian settlement named sajavit; thus, la misión de san juan capistrano de sajavit founded.

assisting clergy gregório amúrrio of mission san luis obispo arrived san gabriel 8 days later supply of goods , cattle. unfortunately, word arrived san diego @ same time group of natives attacked mission , brutally murdered 1 of missionaries (luís jayme). since feared @ time hostile action natives against few burgeoning outposts might break spain s tenuous hold on alta california, priests buried san juan capistrano mission bells. lieutenant josé francisco ortega, military leader of expedition, led small contingent of spanish soldiers el presidio de san diego quell uprising; priests, along few remaining soldiers escort, gathered belongings , fled safety of presido, given further details of disaster.

a plan view of mission san juan capistrano complex (including footprint of great stone church ) prepared architectural historian rexford newcomb in 1916.

one year later serra himself, along amúrrio , pablo de mugártegui, took work on mission @ san juan capistrano; contingent, accompanied eleven soldiers, arrived on october 30 or 31, 1776. upon return site today known mission vieja, party excavated bells , constructed new arbor; original wooden cross was, surprise, still standing. serra celebrated high mass in thanksgiving on november 1, 1776—celebrated ever since official founding date. due inadequate water supply mission site subsequently relocated approximately 3 miles west near indian village of acágcheme. new venue strategically placed above 2 nearby streams, trabuco , san juan. mission san gabriel provided cattle , neophyte labor assist in development of new mission. amúrrio performed mission s first baptism on december 19 of year (a total of 4,639 souls converted @ mission between 1776 , 1847.) first indian marriage blessed mugártegui on feast of espousals of blessed virgin mary, january 23, 1777. mugártegui presided on first burial ceremony on july 13 (the first burial on mission grounds not take place until march 9, 1781). registers of baptisms, marriages, , burials intact , preserved @ mission, confirmation register (san juan capistrano 1 of few missions have retained document). serra visited mission first time since founding , administered sacrament of confirmation on october 22. in 1778, first adobe capilla (chapel) blessed. replaced larger, 115-foot (35 m) long house of worship in 1782, regarded oldest standing building in california. known proudly serra chapel, has distinction of being remaining church in serra known have officiated ( mission dolores still under construction @ time of serra s visit there). serra presided on confirmations of 213 people on october 12 , 13, 1783; divine services held there day. time of chapel s completion, living quarters, kitchens (pozolera), workshops, storerooms, soldiers barracks (cuartels), , number of other ancillary buildings had been erected, forming main cuadrángulo (quadrangle). template:sup bro

artist rexford newcomb s conception of mission san juan capistrano in heyday. intact great stone church depicted @ far right. no contemporary drawing or painting of mission ever completed.

california s first vineyard located on mission grounds, planting of mission or criollo grape in 1779, 1 grown extensively throughout spanish america @ time uncertain european origin. grape grown in mission system throughout mid-19th century. first winery in alta california built in san juan capistrano in 1783; both red , white wines (sweet , dry), brandy, , port-like fortified wine called angelica produced mission grape. in 1791, mission s 2 original bells removed tree branch on had been hanging previous fifteen years , placed within permanent mounting. on next 2 decades mission prospered, , in 1794 on seventy adobe structures built in order provide permanent housing mission indians, of comprise oldest residential neighborhood in california. decided larger, european-style church required accommodate growing population. hoping construct edifice of magnificent proportions, priests retained services of maestro albañil (master stonemason) isídro aguilár of culiacán. aguílar took charge of church s construction , set incorporating numerous design features not found @ other california mission, including use of domed roof structure made of stone opposed typical flat wood roof. elegant roof design called 6 vaulted domes (bovedas) built.

a close-up view of ruins of mission san juan capistrano s great stone church, dubbed architects american acropolis in reference classical greco-roman style. important , pretentious building of whole mission period... modeled after byzantine cathedrals scattered throughout europe , western asia.

work begun on great stone church (the chapel building in alta california not constructed out of adobe) on february 2, 1797. laid out in shape of cross, measuring 180 feet (55 m) long 40 feet (12 m) wide 50-foot (15 m) high walls, , included 120-foot (37 m) tall campanile (bell tower) located adjacent main entrance. local legend has tower seen ten miles (16 km) or more, , bells heard farther away. sandstone building sat on foundation 7 feet thick. construction efforts required participation of entire neophyte population. stones quarried gullies , creek beds 6 miles (10 km) away , transported in carts (carretas) drawn oxen, carried hand, , dragged building site. limestone crushed powder on mission grounds create mortar more erosion-resistant actual stones. on afternoon of november 22, 1800, tremors 6.5-magnitude san diego earthquake cracked walls of rising edifice, necessitating repair work performed. unfortunately, señor aguilár died 6 years project; work carried on priests , charges, made best attempts emulate existing construction. lacking skills of master mason, however, led irregular walls , necessitated addition of seventh roof dome. church completed in 1806, , blessed fray estévan tapís on evening of september 7; two-day-long fiesta followed. sanctuary floors paved diamond-shaped tiles, , brick-lined niches displayed statues of various saints. accounts magnificent in of california , three-day feast held in celebration of monumental achievement. tragedy struck settlement when on morning of december 8, 1812, feast day of immaculate conception of blessed virgin , series of large earthquakes shook southern california during first sunday service. 7.5-magnitude san juan capistrano earthquake racked doors church, pinning them shut. when ground stopped shaking, bulk of nave had come crashing down, , bell tower obliterated. forty native worshipers attending mass , 2 boys had been ringing bells in tower buried under rubble , lost lives, , subsequently interred in mission cemetery. second major setback outpost had suffered, , followed severe storms , flooding had damaged mission buildings , ruined crops earlier in year.

misión san juan de capistrano henry chapman ford, 1880. work depicts rear of ruined great stone church part of mission s campo santo. portion of serra s church visible @ right. oil on canvas.

the priests resumed holding services in serra s church. within year brick campanario ( bell wall ) had been erected between ruins of stone church , mission s first chapel support 4 bells salvaged rubble of campanile. transept, sanctuary (reredos), , sacristia (sacristy) left standing, attempt made rebuild stone church in 1815 failed due lack of construction expertise (the latter element intact today). consequently, of construction work undertaken @ mission grounds thereafter of strictly utilitarian nature. josé barona , boscana oversaw construction of small infirmary (hospital) building (located outside northwestern corner of quadrangle) in 1814, convenience of sick. here juaneño medicine men used traditional methods heal sick , injured. archaeological excavations in 1937 , 1979 unearthed believed building s foundations.

on december 14, 1818, french privateer hipólito bouchard, sailing under flag of united provinces of rio de la plata (argentina), brought ships la argentina , santa rosa within sight of mission; aware bouchard (today known california s pirate ) had conducted raids on settlements @ monterey , santa barbara, comandante ruíz had sent forth party of thirty men (under leadership of young spanish lieutenant named santiago argüello) protect mission @ first news of approach on 13th. 2 members of bouchard s contingent made contact garrison soldiers , made demand provisions, rebuffed added threats: lieutenant argüello replied if ships did not sail away garrison gladly provide immediate supply of shot , shell . in response, pirata buchar (as referred californios) ordered assault on mission, sending 140 men , 2 or 3 violentos (light howitzer cannon) take needed supplies force. mission guards engaged attackers overwhelmed; marauders looted mission warehouses , left minor damage several mission buildings in wake, , reportedly set fire few of outlying straw houses. reinforcements santa barbara , los angeles, led comandante guerra el presidio real de santa bárbara, arrived next day no avail ships had set sail. regarded today 1 of more colorful events in mission s history, annual celebration held memorialize day pirates sacked mission.

the sanctuary in serra s chapel (the former sala ) looked prior being enlarged in 1922. building extant structure wherein has been documented serra officiated on mass, , oldest building in california in continuous use.

mexico gained independence spain in 1821. 1820s , 30s saw gradual decline in mission s status. disease thinned out once ample cattle herds, , sudden infestation of mustard weed made increasingly difficult cultivate crops. floods , droughts took toll well. biggest threat mission s stability came presence of spanish settlers sought take on capistrano s fertile lands. on time disillusioned indian population gradually left mission, , without regular maintenance physical deterioration continued @ accelerated rate. nevertheless, there sufficient activity along el camino real justify construction of las flores asistencia in 1823. facility, situated halfway between san juan capistrano , mission @ san luis rey, intended act rest stop traveling clergy. around 1820 estancia (station) established few miles north on banks of santa ana river accommodate mission s sizeable cattle herd. adobe structure built house mayordomo , vaqueros (cowboys) tended mission herds known today diego sepúlveda adobe. upon death in 1825, don josé antonio yorba (a prominent spanish land owner , member of portolà expedition), buried in mission s ceremony in unmarked grave; cenotaph later placed in yorba s honor.

ya viene el alba ( dawn comes ), typical of hymns sung @ mission.

josé maría de echeandía, first native mexican elected governor of alta california, issued proclamation of emancipation (or prevenciónes de emancipacion ) on july 25, 1826. indians within military districts of san diego, santa barbara, , monterey found qualified freed missionary rule , made eligible become mexican citizens; wished remain under mission tutelage exempted forms of corporal punishment. catholic historian zephyrin engelhardt referred echeandía ...an avowed enemy of religious orders. despite fact echeandía s emancipation plan met little encouragement neophytes populated southern missions, nonetheless determined test scheme on large scale @ mission san juan capistrano. end, appointed board of comisianados (commissioners) oversee emancipation of indians. in response proclamation, barona refused take oath of allegiance saw bogus republic of mexico despite fact he, along 2 of other spanish missionaries, had sworn independence of mexico. mexican government passed legislation on december 20, 1827, mandated expulsion of spaniards younger sixty years of age mexican territories; governor echeandía nevertheless intervened on barona s behalf in order prevent deportation once law of took effect in california.

even before mexico had gained independence, mission had begun decline. although governor josé figueroa (who took office in 1833) attempted keep mission system intact, mexican congress passed act secularization of missions of california on august 17, 1833. act provided colonization of both alta , baja california, expenses of latter move borne proceeds gained sale of mission property private interests. mission san juan capistrano first feel effects of legislation following year when, on august 9, 1834, governor figueroa issued decree of confiscation.

rancho period (1834–1849)

on november 22, 1834, commissioner juan josé rocha formally acknowledged receipt of decree of confiscation. final inventory mission san juan capistrano compiled josé maria de zalvidea , 4 of commissioners, , included:

a pencil sketch of mission san juan capstrano drawn h.m.t. powell in 1850 shows domes on sanctuary , transept, , of side walls, being intact @ time. rendition omits mounds of rubble have been present @ time of powell s visit. structure reduced present state during 1860s in misguided attempt restore edifice original glory picture shows more of great stone church survived quake presently standing .



buildings ($7,298);
chapel ($1,250);
furnishings, tools, , implements ($14,768);
contents of chapel , sacristy ($15,568);
ranchos of san mateo , mission viejo ($12,019); and
library holdings ($490)

for total valuation of $54,456. mission credits totaled $13,123 while debts equaled mere $1,410. mission library included 3 volumes of juan de torquemada , twelve volumes of año cristiano. names of 2,000 neophytes carried on mission rolls. mission agricultural holdings year consisted of:

8,000 head of cattle;
4,000 sheep;
80 pigs;
50 horses;
9 mules;
150 fanegas of maize;
20 fanegas of beans; and
50 barrels of wine , brandy.

thereafter, franciscans abandoned mission, taking them of value, after locals plundered many of mission buildings construction materials. according bancroft, population of san juan capistrano in 1834 had decreased 861 souls, , in 1840 less 500 less 100 @ pueblo proper; while in crops san juan (capistrano) showed larger deterioration other (missionary) establishment. 1835, little of mission s assets remained, though manufacture of hides , tallow continued in full swing described in richard henry dana s classic novel 2 years before mast. mission declared in ruinous state , indian pueblo dissolved in 1841. san juan capistrano officially designated governor juan b. alvarado secular mexican town on july 29, @ time few still resided @ mission granted sections of land use own. following change in status, area around mission began decay rapidly; santiago argüello (then prefect of southern district of los angeles) complained commandant of presidio of santa barbara, don josé de la guerra y noriega, ...the unfortunate missions of san gabriel , san juan capistrano [have] been converted brothels of mayordomos.

four years later, mission property auctioned off under questionable circumstances $710 worth of tallow , hides (equivalent $15,000 in 2004 dollars) englishman john (don juan) forster (governor pío pico s brother-in-law, family take residence in friars quarters next twenty years) , partner james mckinley. more families subsequently take residence in other portions of mission buildings. josé maría zalvidea left san juan capistrano on or november 25, 1842, when mission san luis rey de francia s ibarra died, leaving mission without resident priest first time (zalvidea had been mission s sole priest ever since death of josef barona in 1831.) first secular priest take charge of mission, reverend josé maria rosáles, arrived on october 8, 1843; vicente pascual oliva, last resident missionary, died on january 2, 1848.

california statehood (1850–1900)

mission san juan capistrano, photochrom print william henry jackson c. 1899

because virtually of artwork @ missions served either devotional or didactic purpose, there no underlying reason mission residents record surroundings graphically; visitors, however, found them objects of curiosity. during 1850s number of artists found gainful employment draftsmen attached expeditions sent map pacific coastline , border between california , mexico (as plot practical railroad routes); many of drawings reproduced lithographs in expedition reports. oldest surviving sketch of mission, dating 1850 , in collection of bancroft library, shows domes above stone church s transept, along main dome , cupola (lantern house) located above sanctuary, survived 1812 quake. earliest known photograph of san juan capistrano taken german-born artist edward vischer in 1860. before time, however, ruins @ san juan capistrano , stone church had been romanticized landscape painters, writers, , historians. ruins have been compared of greece , rome, , have @ various times been referred alhambra of america, american acropolis, , melrose abbey of west. in 1860, abortive attempt @ restoring stone church cause of additional disintegration, forcing domes on transept , sanctuary collapse.

josé mut s dining room thought have looked during twenty-year stay @ mission. years later, furniture maker , architect gustav stickley (the leading spokesperson american arts , crafts movement) developed reputation fine, hand-crafted furnishings inspired pieces such these.

a smallpox epidemic swept through area in 1862, wiping out remaining juaneño indians. president abraham lincoln signed proclamation on march 18, 1865, restored ownership of mission proper roman catholic church. document remains on display in mission s barracks cum museum. ownership of 44.40 acres (179,700 m) conveyed church, practical intents being exact area of land occupied original mission buildings, cemeteries, , gardens. mission s sole resident april 1866, april 1886, pastor, josé mut. mut made changes in order accommodate own needs, little accomplished prevent further deterioration of mission buildings. around 1873, forty juaneño still associated mission; however, many of of mixed spanish/mexican , juaneño heritage not taken consideration, , several native villages still existed in interior valleys. during same era, mission priests established circuit-riding ministry these interior villages south, , on other side of palomar mountain range. wave of migration juaneño out of san juan occurred in 1880–1900 towns in northern orange county started form , needed laborers.

the partially restored plaza @ mission san juan capistrano appeared around 1896. right sala, served mission chapel 1891 until serra s chapel restored in mid-1920s; building housed forster family during time @ mission. left of center mut s former residence, including loft had constructed.

the 1880s saw appearance of number of articles on missions in national publications , first books on subject; result, large number of artists did 1 or more mission paintings, though few attempted series. 1891 roof collapse required serra chapel abandoned completely. modifications made original adobe church (including addition of cross-topped espadaña @ south end, feature has been retained in present iteration of mission compound) in order render suitable use parish church. in 1894, atchison, topeka , santa fe railway constructed new depot in emerging mission revival style mere blocks mission. rumored stonework, bricks, , roof tiles salvaged decaying buildings. following year, group calling landmarks club of southern california (under direction of acclaimed american journalist, historian, , photographer charles fletcher lummis) made first real efforts in on fifty years @ preserving mission , restoring original state. on 400 tons of debris cleared away, holes in walls patched, , new shake cedar roofs placed on few of derelict buildings; mile of walkways repaved asphalt , gravel well.

20th century , beyond (since 1901)

bells @ mission



manicured hedges on part of walls @ mission

after mut s departure in 1886 parish found without permanent pastor, , mission languished during period. st. john o sullivan arrived in san juan capistrano in 1910 recuperate recent stroke, , seek relief chronic tuberculosis. became fascinated scope of mission , set work on rebuilding section @ time. o sullivan s first task repair roof of serra chapel (which being employed granary , storeroom) using sycamore logs match used in original work; in process, roof of apse raised allow inclusion of window natural light brought space. other refurbishments made time , funds permitted. arthur b. benton, los angeles architect, strengthened chapel walls through addition of heavy masonry buttresses. centerpiece of chapel spectacular retablo serves backdrop altar. masterpiece of baroque art, altarpiece hand-carved of 396 individual pieces of cherry wood , overlaid in gold leaf in barcelona , estimated 400 years old. imported barcelona in 1806 los angeles cathedral never used. later donated archbishop john joseph cantwell of los angeles , installed sometime between 1922 , 1924 (the north end of building had enlarged accommodate piece due height). although retablo had been relayered on centuries, of original gilding remains underneath modern materials (extensive restoration begun in june 2006).

the first of many hollywood productions use san juan capistrano backdrop d.w. griffith s 1910 western film 2 brothers (the first film ever shot in orange county). on january 7, 1911, film s leading lady, silent film star mary pickford, secretly wed fellow actor owen moore in mission chapel. artist charles percy austin stayed in san juan capistrano , donated several of works, notable being memorialization of pickford s wedding ceremony, appropriately entitled mary pickford s wedding, painted after o sullivan performed marriage rites. noted portraitist joseph kleitsch resided @ mission time, , painted portrait of o sullivan in 1924 (among other works). third , final act of john steven mcgroarty s mission play (1911) set ...amid broken , deserted walls of mission san juan capistrano (the mission of swallow), in 1847.

severe flooding destroyed portion of mission s front arcade in 1915, , heavy storms year later washed away 1 end of barracks building (which o sullivan rebuilt in 1917), incorporating minor modifications such ornamental archway in order make edifice more closely resemble church. mission grounds enclosed wood picket fence, , beginning on may 9, 1916, ten-cent admission fee charged defray preservation costs. in 1918, mission given parochial status, o’sullivan serving first modern pastor. on april 21 of year san jacinto earthquake caused moderate structural damage of buildings. in 1919, author johnston mcculley created character zorro , chose mission san juan capistrano setting first novella, curse of capistrano. in 1920, sacred garden created in courtyard adjacent stone church, , in 1925 full restoration of serra chapel completed. o sullivan died in 1933 , interred in mission cemetery (campo santo) amongst more 2,000 former inhabitants (mostly juaneño indians), buried in unmarked graves. o sullivan s tomb lies @ foot of celtic cross o sullivan himself erected memorial mission s builders.

after o’sullivan s death, arthur j. hutchinson (another pastor love of california history) assumed leadership of mission, , played central role in raising needed funds continue mission’s preservation work. pastor hutchinson made key archeological discoveries on mission grounds during tenure (he died on july 27, 1951), after time work continued next 2 pastors, monsignors vincent lloyd-russell , paul m. martin. in 1937, representatives of u.s. national park service s historic american buildings survey, part of historic sites act of 1935, surveyed , photographed grounds , structures extensively. efforts laid groundwork future excavation , reconstruction of west wing industrial complex. monsignor martin began comprehensive preservation effort following 1987 whittier narrows earthquake.

the prestigious world monuments fund placed great stone church on list of 100 endangered sites in 2002. recent series of seismic retrofits @ mission completed @ cost of $7.5 million in 2004. half million visitors, including 80,000 school children, come mission each year.

a number of events held @ mission today. main fundraising event, battle of mariachis, has been held since 2004 , started way honor heritage.