Located in the heart of the San Juan Valley and along the spine of the San Andreas Fault, San Juan Bautista was destroyed by a series of devastating earthquakes one year after it was founded. The present mission church was built in 1812 and its interior was painted by an American sailor who jumped ship in Monterey. The outer walls were leveled in the great San Francisco quake of 1906 and its reconstruction, featuring three naves, make it the largest of the mission churches. The Spanish plaza in front of the mission is the only one remaining in all of California--a window on the way life was lived during the mission era.

Fifteenth Mission Built

Founded:
June 24, 1797

Location:
2nd and Mariposa Streets
San Juan Bautista

MAP TO MISSION &
DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS

Mission Scrapbook

LIMITED FINE ART EDITION
"San Juan Bautista Field Trip"