The name of our mission is San Juan Capistrano. It was built on November 1, 1776. Our mission was started by Father Junipero Serra. It is located 70 miles north of San Diego, less than 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean, along two creeks. Our mission was built so priests could teach Native Americans Catholicism, to teach them how to farm, Spanish king wanted to claim more land for Spain, and bcause Spanish people wanted the Native Americans to support Spain.

    Our mission was built in the coastal region, along El Camino Real. Abode bricks and sandstone were used to build the mission. San Juan Capistrano had huge fields of grain, fruit, and vegetables,The Great Stone Church, quarters for the padres and soldados, a cemetary, storerooms, and workshops. The bell tower was 120 feet tall, and the Great Stone Church had wall 7 feet thick, was very beautiful, and was stunning to anyone who saw it.                    

    The  Padres tought Cahtolicism to the Native Americans. The soldados defended the missions and ordered the Native Americans to stay at the missions and sometimes forced them to. The Native Americans learned Catholicism, farming, and services. The Native American had to go to services,farm food for many people, including themselves, and do other hard work.

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Hardships and Changes to the Mission

  In 1812 The Great Stone Church and other parts of the mission were decimated by an earthquake. In 1818, a pirate named Hippolyte Bouchard attacked the mission and burned several buildings. The church and bell tower had to be rebuilt. They grew fruits and vegetables. The Juanero Band of Native Americans lived in the mission.

Mission San Juan Capistrano is a mission that is open to tourists, especially fouth grade field trips. Approximatly 500,000 visitors pour into Mission San Juan Capistrano each year. The mission system ended when Mexico won the Mexican War for Independence, thus  freed from Spain's rule. The Mexican government thought the missions were no longer necessary, and the Native Americans should not be forced to work at them. The mission land, supposed to be given to the Native Americans, was instead given to people with government connection because of dishonest officials. The missions changed our economy to agricultural. 

http:\\www.missionsanjuancpistrano.com/pres_conservation.html
Ca Mission Fact Cards:San Juan Capistrano, Milpedas Toucan Valley Publications,1992