Mission Trail Today - The California Missions

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Mission Trail Today

All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003 - 2013.

Select photographs of my many visits to the California Missions build by Spain and Mexico between 1769 and 1823.

#12, Santa Cruz
Founded August 28, 1791
by Father Fermin Lasuen
in Santa Cruz

Updated
Page

Personal Observations

I visited Mission Santa Cruz in November 2003, but forgot my wide angle lens and I hope to return to Mission Santa Cruz in 2004, with the correct lens. There is little left of the actual mission. Earthquakes in 1857 and 1859 destroyed the original church. A modern church (1889) stands where the mission church once sat. There is a piece of Indian housing remaining from the original mission. A small replica of the church was built in 1931 on a near by site.

I had just bought a new camera and unintentionally left my wide angle lens at home attached to my old camera. We do hope to return this year to reshoot some photos of this mission using my favorite lens.

Photo-Art
Mission Art & Photo-Art

History

The full Spanish name of the mission is "Misión la exaltación de la Santa Cruz.

The original mission was much larger than what remains today. When it was time to rebuild the mission church, the site was already occupied by a newer church, so a smaller reproduction was built nearby. The building at the lower right predated the Family Housing which remains today.

Address and Directions

Mission Plaza
High Street (at Emmet St.)
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Tele: 1-831-426-5686
Fax: 1-831-423-1043

Hours:
Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10-4
Sundays, 10-2
closed Mondays, except after major holiday weekends

Photography Gallery

Altar of reproduction church. The tabernacle doors are from the original church. 11-29-03.

Note how small this reproduction church is. 11-29-03.

This reproduction of the church is a few hundred feet from the location of the original church. 11-29-03.

I unintentionally left my wide angle lens at home and plan to return and reshote these photos later this year.

Behind the half size reproduction church is a small garden.

The original baptismal fount. 11-29-03.

Statue to Mary. 11-29-03.

Statue of Father Junipero Serra. 11-29-03.

Altar of reproduction church. The tabernacle doors are from the original church. 11-29-03.

Note the reproduction half size mission church in the distance on the right. 11-29-03.

Note the top of the bell towers to the reproduction half size mission church and the replacement more modern church in the distance. 11-29-03.

Above and right. This building originally contained 17 rooms for family housing. Seven room remain. This is the oldest family housing building remaining in California. A similar building once existed about 200 feet north. The reproduction mission is midway between what would be the far end of these buildings if they existed. 11-29-03.

Roof of family housing. 11-29-03.

The family housing originally had 17 rooms, 7 remain. This is the end where the building once continued. 11-29-03.

Photo date: 11-29-03.

Photo date: 11-29-03.

Family Housing, interior. 11-29-03.

Caretta. 11-29-03.

Under this shelter are the remains of the last surviving wall of the earlier church. 11-29-03.

Old mission cemetery. 11-29-03.

Holy Cross Church replaced the earlier adobe church which was destroyed by an earthquake. 11-29-03.

Sources:

This web site was created because of my love and respect for the California Missions. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ...

This page last updated 7-30-13

This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson.
Copyright © 2003 - 2013, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved.
Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website.

This site is a light hearted alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.

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