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Soledad means solitude or loneliness and Father Lasuen named it after Virgin Mary.

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The original church was destroyed by the flood in 1828. Mission Soledad was prone to getting floods. They experienced 3 floods in total.

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Father Lasuen, founder of Mission Soledad

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Father Lasuen, founder of Mission Soledad

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After Father Lasuen died, the Indians left the mission to seek a better life.

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it is the 5th misshon to be fonded

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La Misión de María Santísima, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is located in the Salinas Valley near Soledad, California. Founded in 1791 by Father Fermin Lasuen, Mission Soledad is the thirteenth mission to be founded in California. It is nestled in the heart of the wine country known as the Santa Lucia Highlands and there are three wineries within two miles of the mission. Los Padres National Forest is to the south of the mission and the Pinnacles National Monument is to the east. Monterey Bay is fifty minutes to the northwest.

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La Misión de María Santísima, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is located in the Salinas Valley near Soledad, California. Founded in 1791 by Father Fermin Lasuen, Mission Soledad is the thirteenth mission to be founded in California.

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200 Years Old: Mission San Miguel Archangel

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This Mission San Miguel was so fun to learn about I hope I get to learn about this mission a little bit more I look forward to learning about the other 20 missions.

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This is a photo of Mission San Francisco Solano

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This is a photo of Mission San Francisco Solano

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Let's Draw Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma!

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Mission San Francisco Solano is the last mission to be found in CAL

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Mission San Francisco Solano is the last mission to be found in CAL

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Mission Santa Cruz was founded on August 28, 1797. It was founded by Father Lasuen.

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The original church of Mission Santa Cruz was destroyed during an earthquake. A replica was built and it is one-third of its original size.

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Address

Website(s)

Phone(s)

831-426-5686 - Mission Galeria Shop

831-423-4182 - Church Office

Fees, Hours, Tours and Church Services

Please contact the mission directly by telephone or by visiting the mission website for the most current information.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is best to check for current information.

Weddings and Other Special Services

Weddings are held at both the Holy Cross Parish Church and the Mission Chapel. Visit the church Sacramental Preparation page for more detailed information.

A Baptism Ceremony in the Santa Cruz Mission

Unique Attractions

The mission chapel is an authentic smaller one-third replica of the 1795 church.

There is a 1797 oil painting of the Virgen de Guadalupe hanging on the side wall of the church.

The interior of the chapel is very inviting and a popular site for Baptisms and small weddings.

There is a small garden behind the mission. The original hand-carved baptismal font, once located in the sanctuary, is found here.

A portion of the only original 1822 neophyte housing at Santa Cruz has been restored and is the central attraction in the Santa Cruz Mission State Historical Park. The park is about two blocks from the mission, on School Street, just off Mission Plaza. For information visit the website or call 831-335-1743.

Other Historic Attractions

The city of Santa Cruz was founded in the mission era as the Villa de Branciforte. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History has a permanent history room.

Santa Cruz has a beautiful coastline. Take the West Cliff Drive if you have time.

View of the Pacific Ocean Near Santa Cruz

Tips for Visitors

The Holy Cross Parish Church is an imposing, ornate Gothic-style church built in 1887. If you walk behind the church, you will see a marker indicating that this is where the original mission was located.

Be sure to visit the Indian Adobe housing.

It takes some patience and skill to photograph the chapel as high tension wires pass in front. One option is to photograph the chapel from the side as you can see in this picture.

Another interesting vantage point is the view through the gothic arches in front of the Parish Church but the wires are quite visible.

Year Returned to the Catholic Church

1859 by President James Buchanan

Prominent Missionary Leaders

Founding Father President - Fr. Fermin Francisco de Lasuén

Founding Missionaries - Fr. Isídro Salazar and Fr. Balamero López

Portrait of Fr. Fermin Francisco de Lasuén

Mission Layout

Traditional quadrangle with a large garden and orchard near the mission.

Population

Close proximity to the pueblo of Branciforte (present day Santa Cruz) and a series of natural disasters limited the success of this mission. The peak population recorded was only 523, achieved in 1796.

Livestock

Santa Cruz ranked in the bottom 25% of the California Missions in the size of its livestock herd - 9,236 in 1832.

Mission Santa Cruz Cattle Brand

Mission Church

The Santa Cruz Mission church was destroyed in earthquakes. A painting by Leon Trousset was based on details provided by the locals after a most devastating earthquake in 1857.

In 1858 a "modern" wooden church was erected where the mission church once stood. The ornate Gothic-style church seen today subsequently replaced it in 1887 by the current parish church.

The mission chapel is a well-executed, smaller (one-third scale) replica of the 1795 mission church. It was erected in 1931.

Significant Events

The residents of the nearby pueblo of Branciforte looted the mission in 1818 after the mission's inhabitants fled under threat of pirate attack by Hippolyte de Bouchard.

The pueblo was founded with former prison convicts from Guadalajara.

Interesting Facts

The first autopsy in California was performed on Fr. Andrés Quintana in 1812 to determine the cause of death (poisoning was suspected).

The remains of Gladys S. Doyle, who funded the construction of the mission replica, are buried in the church baptistery.

The only original mission neophyte housing in California is at the nearby State Historic Park.

Diagram of Neophyte Housing

For Additional Information

Ostrow, K. (2004). Mission Santa Cruz. (PowerKids Press, Missions of California Series)

Weber, F.J. (1984). Holy Cross Mission: A Documentary History of Santa Cruz.

Van Coenen Torchiana, H.A. (1918). Story of Mission Santa Cruz.

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Santa Cruz was founded on August 28, 1791, and is named for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christianity. This mission is located on a bluff in the city of Santa Cruz, near the mouth of the San Lorenzo River.

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Location: 130 Emmett St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Date founded: August 28, 1791

Patron saint: Named for the Cross of Jesus (the Holy Cross).

Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.

Native peoples: Ohlone and Yokuts.

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.

Features: Half-size replica of the original mission church adjacent to functioning parish church. Restored native family housing a couple of blocks away at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.

Current status: Replicas of the mission are on the grounds of a Catholic parish. There is a nearby Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park as well.

Historical landmark number: CA Historical Landmark no. 342

Interesting facts: In 1818 the mission was looted by settlers from the nearby town of Branciforte, who were supposed to be protecting it from pirates. An 1840 and earthquake and tidal wave caused great damage to the mission.
Important events:

1794: Mission church dedicated.

1796: British explorer George Vancouver visits the mission. Tradition says he gifted grinding stones to the mission.

July, 1797: Villa of Branciforte founded adjacent to the mission.

1812: Fr. Andrés Quintana, mission priest, is killed by a group of Native Americans from the mission.

1818: Mission is evacuated due to attacks of pirate Hippolyte Bouchard.

1840: Earthquake topples the mission campanario (bell tower).

February, 1857: Earthquake destroys the mission church and outbuildings.

1859: President James Buchanan gives the mission buildings and 17 acres back to the Catholic Church.

Websites: (Parish) www.holycrosssantacruz.com/mission-santa-cruz and (Park) www.parks.ca.gov

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Mission Santa Cruz Facts | The California Frontier Project

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Location: 130 Emmett St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Date founded: August 28, 1791 Patron saint: Named for the Cross of Jesus (the Holy Cross). Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén. Native peoples: Ohlone and Yokuts. Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.

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The fountain in the courtyard in Mission Santa Cruz is filled with Koi fish. 

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The gardens at Mission Santa Cruz are lush with vegetation and also display a statue of Father Lasuen.

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there cattle is like a huge farm

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Mission San Jose was founded on June 11, 1797 by Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen on a site which was part of a natural highway by way of the Livermore Valley to the San Joaquin Valley. It is the fourteenth of the 21 Spanish Missions in Alta California. They were founded to secure Spain's claim to this land and to teach the native people Christianity and the Spanish way of life.

Students interested in learning more about the history of Mission San Jose, especially for the 4th Grade Mission Project, can write to request the free historical information packet.

The Mission San Jose is frequently visited by classrooms and tour groups. Learn more about reserving a time for a docent-guided tour.

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Mission San Jose was founded on June 11, 1797 by Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen on a site which was part of a natural highway by way of the Livermore Valley to the San Joaquin Valley. It is the fourteenth of the 21 Spanish Missions in Alta California.

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This San Antonio mission has a long history | NEW TO TOWN

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Founded in 1797, Mission San Miguel is a National Historical Landmark that has been an important part of Central Coast history for over 200 years. Come experience the rich history of Mission San Miguel

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Mission San Miguel 3D Flyover - August, 2016

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Mission Santa Barbara is a cool mission in the past