Misión San Antonio de Padua

On July 14, 1771 Padre Serra hung (a) bell in an oak tree and rang it to call the Indians to the founding of Mission San Antonio. The original oak, which has since been destroyed, stood 1½ miles to the southwest. In 1773 because of need of (a) better water supply, the mission was moved to the location where it now stands.

5844 Foot Junipero Serra Peak, highest in the Santa Lucia Range, in the distance to the left.

by an anonymous Mexican artist. This is an artist copy of a work commissioned for a French church - original by Jean Cousin Le Jeune dated 1585. A fine art example of a genre of paintings employed by padres as teaching aids.

A)-Padre Buenaventura Sitjar, O.F.M. Born in Majorca December 9, 1739 • Arrived in California March 12, 1771 • Present at founding of Mission San Antonio July 14, 1771 • Served here 36 years where he died September 3, 1808

B)- Padre Francisco Pujol, O.F.M. Born in Villa de Alos, Spain, March 7, 1862 • Came to California in 1795 • Died here March 15, 1801

C)- Padre Juan Bautista Sancho, O.F.M. Born in Majorca December 1, 1772 • Arrived in California in 1803 • Served this mission for 26 years where he died February 11, 1830

D)- Padre Vicente de Sarria, O.F.M. Born in Estevan, Spain, 1767 • Came to California in 1809 • Died of want and hunger at Mission Soledad in 1835 • Carried here by Indians for burial

E)- Reverend Doroteo Ambris Born in Mexico • Served this mission from 1851-1882 • Died here February 5, 1882

This plaque erected by Mrs. Florence Dodson-Schoneman and the Native Daughters of the Golden West - 1966

Edward McDonagh, died March 12, 1889 aged 74 years
Mary McDonagh, died Dec. 25, 1906 aged 82 years
Mary A Grayson, died Nov. 11, 1884 aged 35 years

Aqui yacen los restos de
Maximiana G. de Aldaco
Murio el 25 de Mayo 1882

(Located inside the entryway below the campanário)
The first marriage in California took place at this Mission between Juan María Ruiz of El Fuerte, Sonora, Mexico, 25 years of age, and Margaríta de Cortona, 22, a Salinian woman of Mission San Antonio, on the sixteenth of May in the year of Our Lord 1773.

This Rose Garden is dedicated to the memory of Marie G. Trescony for her love of San Antonio Mission and her zealous efforts for its restoration.
The Franciscan Fathers of California
June 11, 1961

These grapes are from the original stock cultivated in the vineyard of this mission.

Planted in orchard surrounded by Indian houses.

It has been claimed by experts that the Mission Olive as well as the Mission Grape has not been identified with any of the varieties now cultivated in Europe. Olive seeds, and perhaps some cuttings, were brought by the padres to the missions as early as 1769. Thirty years later olive culture at the missions was an assured success.

are made of adobe bricks made by Indians of mud with straw formed in moulds and dried in sun.

San Antonio Mission is constructed of sun-dried unburnt bricks. Mission adobes were generally 11" by 23" by 4" and weighed about 60 pounds. These dirt bricks were made of mud with straw which was pressed into wooden molds. When the frames were lifted, the bricks were first left to dry flat on the ground then set on edge to cure in the sun.

Freshly made adobe bricks for ongoing restoration efforts.

Dollar bill for scale

mark the outline of the adobe brick building which ran parallel to the church. The foundations are 3½ feet wide. The building was 218 feet long and 30 feet wide. Cobblestone foundation lines also indicate the room partitions. This building was subject to decay after 1845.

The bronze bell in the center niche of the campanário was cast especially for this mission and is the first mission bell made in California. It is 24 inches in diameter and weighs 500 pounds.

This bell, and the El Camino Real bell marker, were presented by California Mission Trails Association, Ltd. to commemorate the restoration dedication ceremony, June 4, 1950.

Under the large oak tree to the northeast, cattle were slaughtered for food in mission days. Until recent times large mounds of bones marked this spot.

Indians separated grain either by having mules tread on it or by beating it with flails.

This mill was operated by a blind-folded mule or burro. It was harnessed to the pole or sweep and moved in a perpetual circle, thereby turning the upper stone. A hopper-funnel set in the feeding hole fed grain to the grinding surfaces of the stones. Grist discharged from the stones was stored in a bin. A tahona mill was installed in 1810.

The Indians of Mission San Antonio belonged to the Salinan Tribe which was part of the Hokan family. Before the founding of the mission for food they ate fish, reptiles, birds and mammals as well as acorns, wild seeds and berries Mortar and pestle were used for crushing seeds. The Salinan Indians made baskets and rough willow storage receptacles for acorns. Their dwellings were brush huts.

Returning to San Carlos,Father Palou compiled the first report on the California missions. Writing of San Antonio he informed the Viceroy under date of December 10, 1773: The Mission has various localities suitable for raising cattle of every kind, as there is an abundance of pasturag, much oak and pine, and a timber of another sort, not known save for its color which is called redwood and is very good for building purposes.

The 5844 ft. mountain, highest in the Santa Lucia Range was named for Padre Junipero Serra (founder of this mission) on Jan. 2, 1907 (by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names) Seamen fro the Philippines in earliest days recorded this observation and pilots reckoned their course by this point.

To the memory of Padre Junipero Serra who erected a cross on the day of the founding of Mission San Antonio July 14, 1771

Shown in oldest photographs. Originally lined with wooden planking. Long filled with debris, reopened in 1955.

Brought to mission by sailors as thanks – offerings to St Antony. Details & dates unknown.

One corporal and five soldiers were stationed in these quarters.

573 ft. drainage ditch to drain water from buildings extending from rancheria past chapel and barracks to small west reservoir.

In the first report of the California Missions, Padre Francisco Palou wrote under date of Dec. 10, 1773, of San Antonio Mission: the mission has succeeded at the new location in securing an abundance of water from the arroyo mentioned, which they have conducted by means of a ditch to irrigate a level piece of land adjoining the mission proper of which a good piece has been cultivated, and they are about to sow on it two fanegas of wheat.

Tannery vats are the original tanks constructed in 1808. Hides processed here were for various leather products needed in early mission days.

Laid out in 1804

Cobblestone foundations, tile floor and mounds of disintegrated adobes indicate the outline of the house of the mayordomo or overseer. This building was 142 feet long and 25 feet wide. The mayordomo had charge of the work and supervised the Indians performance of duties.

Beehive ovens built of adobe were set up about the mission chiefly for baking bread. Charcoal was frequently used for heating these ovens.

Pottery and tile shop using molds. The Indians made tiles for roof and floor, and clay water pipe. These were then fired in the kiln. The wheel was used for making dishes and kitchen utensils.

A few feet in back of this sign are the original retaining walls of the reservoir constructed in the early days of the mission.
To fill the reservoir Padre Buenaventura Sitjar tapped the San Antonio River about three miles above the mission and by means of an aqueduct carried the water to this basin.
Much of the primitive structure is visible. The irrigation system established by Padre Sitjar is considered by experts to be one of the finest engineering feats of early California history.

Tiles for floors and roofs were made of clay shaped by hand in moulds, died and burned for several days in kilns located on the hillside. It is estimated that more than 200,000 tiles were made here by the Indians.

Partly restored canal on either side of road shows route to water on its way to Gristmill. Completed about 1809 by Padre Buenaventura Sitjar O.F.M.

Constructed in 1824.
At first, reservoir was 14’ long; soon it was extended to 37’. In 1826 it was partly lined with masonry. Total capacity 15,000 gals.

Original draw well (noria). 2 men operating this pump could fill reservoir in 7 hours.

An ancient practice was observed in sweat-houses where as many Indians as possible crowded within. While a fire was make inside close to the door. Fuel was added until all were covered with profuse perspiration. Finally thoroughly exhausted they crawled out and plunged in to the nearest stream.

The pomegranate tree was a favorite fruit tree in mission gardens. This tree is preserved from mission days.

Designed by Julia Morgan and built in 1930 on a hill overlooking Mission San Antonio and the San Antonio valley for William Randolph Hearst as ranch headquarters and guesthouse. The Milpitas Ranchhouse was listed in 1977 on the National Register of Historic Places as #77000310. The Moorish Revival style dome is visible through the oak trees on the left and the Fort Hunter Liggett fire station is visible to the extreme right. Now inside the cantonment, Milpitas Ranchhouse is accessible to civilian visitors through an Army checkpoint.

The Moorish Revival style dome over the living quarters at the north end of the building.