San Juan Capistrano Essay

965 Words2 Pages

Alex Laszacs 11-25-14 His 101 - 07 Prof Luckett

San Juan Capistrano, often called the Jewel of the Missions is one of the famous California Missions. Located in the beautiful Orange County, Mission San Juan Capistrano is home to a historical landscape, well preserved buildings, and the famous Cliff Swallow that migrates through the mission. One of my favorite locations, San Juan Capistrano is one of the most important sites in southern California. Historically speaking, San Juan Capistrano was the seventh of the twenty one missions founded by the Spanish in California. This was in part of Spain's larger plan to expand and control territories in the new world and to convert the local population …show more content…

He was diagnosed with tuberculosis and need a warmer climate to live in. By 1910, Father O'Sullivan was put in charge of San Juan's restoration. He had to start work mostly by hand and alone to restore the mission. After a while, his tuberculosis subsided and he regained his health. In 1918, the mission was officially able to operate as a church again. The mission continued to be restored up into the late millennium, and even today the mission is preserved by a non-profit organization. Because the mission was left to ruin in the 19th century, most of the mission had to be rebuilt. Some remnants of the old stone building and adobe still remain with minor restoration. The mission was home to a giant stone Cathedral but was destroyed by an earthquake. Parts of it still remain, not fully intact of course, but it is very interesting to think that some of these stone structures are older then America itself. Inside the mission is Serra's Church which is a small church that is still in regular use. Serra's Church is the oldest standing building in …show more content…

Well tended roses and other plants add a nice color and a bigger sense of life to the mission, The garden fills much of the mission with a very nice smell. The Bell Garden,, located behind the famous bells, is filled with Cacti and other native plants. The Bell Garden itself is very lovely with a stone fountain and a nice, close view to the bells. I was not able to go during the return of the Swallows, but according to Paloma Esquivel of boston.com “. . . the mission bells rang again and again during this year's Festival of the Swallows . . . and the tiny birds just didn't make an appearance. Truth is, they've hardly been seen at the mission for years.” The buildings surrounding the mission offer homes for the Swallow, so the mission itself does not get many visits from the bird. The mission is a very important of California's history and culture. The mission is funded by a non-profit organization, and the preservation is very good. The whole place is clean, beautiful and well kept. All the missions represent a large part what California was like before it became a state. Many people ignore the fact that California had a large and rich culture before it was a state. The mission itself receives more then a half-million visitors each year, meaning it beings a great source of economic income to the community. The mission is a wonderful visit and I recommend everyone to go at least

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