San Juan Bautista in San Benito County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Mission San Juan Bautista

January 17, 2013

1. Mission San Juan Bautista Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Founded June 24, 1797 by Father Laseun
15th of the 21 Missions largest and only church with 3 aisles. Dedicated in 1812
Monastery wing consisted of 36 rooms

This Mission has never been abandoned. It is now the parish church of San Juan Bautista.

Erected 1969. (Marker Number 195.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Exploration • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is June 24, 1965.

Location. 36° 50.743′ N, 121° 32.132′ W. Marker is in San Juan Bautista, California, in San Benito County. Marker is at the intersection of Second Street and Mariposa Street on Second Street. Marker is mounted to the adobe fence at the entrance to Mission San Juan Bautista and the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Second Street, San Juan Bautista CA 95045, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mission Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); The San Andreas Fault Exhibit & El Camino Real Earthquake Walk (within shouting distance of this marker); El Camino Real (within shouting distance of this marker); Vicky’s Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); San Juan Bautista Plaza Historic District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Castro/Breen Adobe and Plaza Hotel (about 300 feet away); The Amah Mutsun Garden (about 300 feet away); Progress Becomes History (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Juan Bautista.

Regarding Mission San Juan Bautista. Mission San Juan Bautista and the town of San Juan played a major part in early California history. In 1846, just prior to the war with Mexico, Colonel John C. Frémont came to the vicinity of the Mission with surveyors, trappers, and Delaware Indians and established a fortress atop Gavilan Mountain. In the days of the Gold Rush this was a stage stop on the main road and the famed Bandit Joaquin Murrietta is reported to have visited the Mission several times.

Also see . . . San Juan Bautista. California Missions website entry (Submitted on February 22, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

2. Mission San Juan Bautista Marker

Founded June 24, 1797 by Fr. Fermin Francisco de Lasuen Placed by California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution November 23, 1969

1. Mission San Juan Bautista
This site was designated as California Registered Historical Landmark No.195 on June 20, 1935.
Statement of Significance:
Founded June 24,1790, Mission San Juan Bautista, partly destroyed by the earthquakes of 1800 and 1906, was repeatedly restored. The two bells it now uses were salvaged from its original chime. The plaza on its south, surrounded by old adobes, has witnessed many historic scenes, including General Frémont's activities in 1846.

— Submitted January 16, 2009.

2. The Mission
The Mission, founded in 1797, is the oldest building in the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen chose this location because there were many Indians in the area, and because it was about a day's walk from both Mission Santa Clara and Mission San Carlos Borromeo at Carmel. Excellent soil and a good water supply, as well as timber, lime and sandstone, were available nearby.
At one time some 1,200 Indians lived and worked at the Mission. More than 4,300 are buried in the old cemetery, along with a number of Spanish Californians.
The church itself, the largest mission church in California, was started in 1803, and despite damage from numerous earthquakes, it has been in

Lower - Mission San Juan Bautista Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

3. Lower - Mission San Juan Bautista Marker

California State Society and Gabilan Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Commemorate the Bicentennial of the Founding of Mission San Juan Bautista 24 June 1797 Mrs. William B. McNew, State Regent 1997

continuous use since July 1, 1812.
Source: Mission San Juan Bautista Historic State Park Brochure

— Submitted January 16, 2009.

3. Two Plaques Are Now Gone
The two plaques from the Daughters of the American Revolution that were on the corner of the fence are no longer there.

— Submitted August 16, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.

Mission San Juan Bautista Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

4. Mission San Juan Bautista Markers

Photographed By James King, April 4, 2015

5. Mission San Juan Bautista Marker

The marker can be seen to the right of the main arch and to to the left of the tent.

The Mission San Juan Bautista Church Bells image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

6. The Mission San Juan Bautista Church Bells

Three of the original nine bells remain

Mission San Juan Bautista image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

7. Mission San Juan Bautista

Sign at Entrance to Mission Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

8. Sign at Entrance to Mission Cemetery

MISSION CEMETERY Buried in this sacred ground in unmarked graves are about 4300 Mission Indians, Spanish and Pioneer Settlers.
This Mission's first offering to God, marked with the Sign of the Holy Trinity was a child. Maria Trinidad, buried April 23, 1798. Fr. Jose Martiarena officiated.

Entrance to Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

9. Entrance to Cemetery

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

10. Mission San Juan Bautista

Interior of the Mission San Juan Bautista image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

11. Interior of the Mission San Juan Bautista

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

12. Interior of the Mission San Juan Bautista

An example of the adobe and wooden beams used in construction of the Mission

Junipero Serra image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

13. Junipero Serra

Statue on the grounds of the Mission

Marker at Base of Junipera Serra Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, January 11, 2009

14. Marker at Base of Junipera Serra Statue

FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 1713-1784 Founder of the California Missions In Memory of EUGENIE B. HANNON Donated by William H. Hannon Foundation

Photographed By Michael D Martin, February 27, 2010

15. Mission San Juan Bautista

Photographed By Michael D Martin, February 27, 2010

16. Mission San Juan Bautista

Photographed By Michael D Martin, February 11, 2010

17. Mission San Juan Bautista

Photographed By Michael D Martin, February 11, 2010

18. Mission San Juan Bautista

DAR Plaques Are Gone image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, June 5, 2023

19. DAR Plaques Are Gone

Mike Roberts, Distributed by Bob Ball, Visalia, Ca, circa 1977

20. Mission San Juan Bautista

Description on Postcard: MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, founded in 1797, is the largest of the 21 Missions. This Mission, with its 4 feet thick adobe walls, took the Indians 15 years to build.

Note the white picket fence and the cross in front of the entrance door - neither of these are here today. Also note that the bell tower has been restored since this photo image was taken.

Dedication Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James King, April 4, 2015

21. Dedication Marker

Dedication

To the deceased past pageant and San Juan/Rodeo workers of San Juan and other communities. Men, women, boys and girls who labored faithfully in their various ways to build up character and effectiveness of the annual commemoration of the founding of the old mission. To them who now are gone ahead of us, we respectfully dedicate this plaque.

Father Francis J.E. Caffery MM
Pageant Founder - 1929-1941

Leonard A. Caetano
Fiesta-Rodeo Chairman 1952-1983
Fiesta de San Juan Chairman 1984-2000

Mission Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James King, April 4, 2015

22. Mission Cemetery

Shaded by ancient olive trees.

Saint John the Baptist<br>San Juan Bautista image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James King, April 4, 2015

23. Saint John the Baptist
San Juan Bautista

Luke 1:78-79
Mark 1:4-5
John 1:6-9
Matthew 3:1-3

Honey Comb and Locust image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James King, April 4, 2015

24. Honey Comb and Locust

...and he ate locusts and wild honey. Mark 1:6

San Juan Bautista image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James King, April 4, 2015

25. San Juan Bautista

Note that the wooden cross in front of the sanctuary has been returned to its place.(Reference picture #19)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 7,641 times since then and 349 times this year. Last updated on April 8, 2015, by James King of San Miguel, California. Photos: 1. submitted on January 18, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 5. submitted on April 7, 2015, by James King of San Miguel, California. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on January 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 13, 14. submitted on January 17, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 15, 16, 17, 18. submitted on January 24, 2011, by Michael D Martin of Gig Harbor, Washington. 19. submitted on August 16, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 20. submitted on January 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. submitted on April 8, 2015, by James King of San Miguel, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.