Santa Ysabel in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Santa Ysabel Asistencia Site

Chapel of Santa Ysabel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

1. Chapel of Santa Ysabel Marker

Inscription. Father Fernando Martin celebrated the first mass on Sept. 20, 1818 at a site nearby, an outpost of Mission San Diego. By 1822 Santa Ysabel had a chapel, cemetery, granary, many houses, and 450 neophytes. After secularization in the 1830s, priestly visits were rare. Tradition asserts that services have been held here since 1818, under ramadas erected against one wall after the roof caved in. The present chapel was built in 1924.

Erected 1987 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Roman Catholic Dicoese of San Diego, Santa Ysabel Tribal Council, and Squibob Chapter, E Clampus Vitus. (Marker Number 369.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Native Americans. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is September 20, 1818.

Location. 33° 7.848′ N, 116° 40.679′ W. Marker is in Santa Ysabel, California, in San Diego County. Marker can be reached from California Route 79 at milepost 21.8, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23238 California 79, Santa Ysabel CA 92070, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Inaja Forest Fire (approx. 2.3 miles away); Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 5.6 miles away); Bailey House (approx. 5.6 miles away); Jacoby Building (approx. 5.7 miles away); Honoring Black Pioneers of Julian (approx. 5.7 miles away); Julian Pioneer Museum (approx. 5.7 miles away); Levi~Marks Store (approx. 5.7 miles away); Julian (approx. 5.7 miles away).

Santa Ysabel Asistencia Site Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 9, 2015

2. Santa Ysabel Asistencia Site Marker

Santa Ysabel Asistencia image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

3. Santa Ysabel Asistencia

Erected A.D. 1924
Here in 1818 the first mass
was offered by
Father Fernando, O.F.M.

Santa Ysabel Asistencia Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

4. Santa Ysabel Asistencia Site

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

5. Santa Ysabel Asistencia

Marker is mounted on the front of the chapel to the left of the entrance door.

Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 9, 2015

6. Santa Ysabel Asistencia Site Marker

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

7. Santa Ysabel Asistencia Site

El Camino Real image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

8. El Camino Real

Mission Santa Ysabel<br>Est. 1818 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

9. Mission Santa Ysabel
Est. 1818

Church Visiting Hours
Mon - Fri 8 AM to 3 PM
Sat - Sun 9 AM to 4 PM
Please no
Fires • Overnight Camping • Alcoholic Beverages

Santa Ysabel Asistencia Chapel Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

10. Santa Ysabel Asistencia Chapel Interior

Santa Ysabel (1818-1992) Indian Mission Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

11. Santa Ysabel (1818-1992) Indian Mission Bell

El Camino Real Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

12. El Camino Real Bell

Angel of the Lost Bells image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

13. Angel of the Lost Bells

An original carving by Steven Berardi inspired by the search of the bells of the Mission of Santa Ysabel. The padre and the Indians bought two bells 150 years ago for six burro load of barley. The oldest bells in California, made in 1723 and 1767. In 1926 the bells mysteriously disappeared.

The Mission has not given up hope that the bells will be returned. The day after the bells disappeared Jose Maria Osuna found the clappers. They were returned in 1959 and are now kept in the Indian Museum.

Gravesite of Fr. Edmond LaPointe image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

14. Gravesite of Fr. Edmond LaPointe

In 1903, Fr. Edmond LaPointe, a Canadian Missionary, came to work at Santa Ysabel and in 1924 he erected the new church. According to his wish, he was buried in the shadow of his beloved church.

Rev. Edmond LaPoint (1873 - 1932) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 4, 2007

15. Rev. Edmond LaPoint (1873 - 1932)

20 Years a Missionary
in San Diego County

Photographed By Denise Boose, June 20, 2015

16. Santa Ysabel Asistencia Site Marker

California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution N.S.D.A.R. An U.S.A BICENTENNIAL PROJECT This plaque marking the site of the First Chapel of Santa Ysabel Indian Mission Founded on Septemeber 20, 1818 By Father Fernando Martin as an Assistencia of the Mission San Diego De Acala is dedicated to the memory of the faith and courage of the Mission Fathers and The Indians of this area January 29, 1974 by The Members of Districts 11, 12, and 14

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 765 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 2. submitted on February 16, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 4, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 6. submitted on February 16, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. submitted on January 4, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 16. submitted on September 7, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.