San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 22, 2009

1. Mission San Juan Capistrano Marker

Inscription. "Jewel of the Missions" founded on November 1, 1776 by father Junipero Serra, most renown and most beautiful of the California Missions, Quaint little Serra Chapel is California's oldest building still in use. The magnificent ruins of the Great Stone Church are considered the "American Acropolis".

Erected by Decorative Arts Study Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Notable Buildings • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1894.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 33° 30.129′ N, 117° 39.76′ W. Marker was in San Juan Capistrano, California, in Orange County. It could be reached from Ortega Highway, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano CA 92675, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Founding Documents of Mission San Juan Capistrano (a few steps from this marker); San Juan Capistrano Mission (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Mission San Juan Capistrano (a few steps from this marker); Metalworking Furnaces (a few steps from this marker); Olive Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Kiicha (within shouting distance of this

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marker); The Great Stone Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Fr. Serra’s Church (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Juan Capistrano.

Mission San Juan Capistrano image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 22, 2009

2. Mission San Juan Capistrano

Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,213 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on May 11, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide view photo of the marker and its surroundings showing its location in context. • • • Can you help?