Mission San Juan Bautista - A Tour By A Fourth Grader

Mission San Juan Bautista is the fifteenth of twenty-one missions in Alta, California. Founded by Fr. Fermin De Lasuen, with three aisles, it is the widest of the missions. The mission consists of a granary, barracks, a monastery and some adobe houses. It took nine years to build. Construction started in 1803 and was dedicated in 1812. Today you can walk through the church, which is still in use by the local Catholic Parish, and see animal footprints in the adobe bricks that tile the floor. These animal prints were made by animal stepping in the bricks that were left outside to dry. You can also visit the cemetery that is the final resting place to 4000 Christian Native Americans and Europeans. On the other side of the church, you can visit the gardens which were the center of activity. Here were learned the skills of carpentry, tanning, weaving, and candle making. Watch this video for more. Dylan is a fourth grader who took great pleasure in learning all about Mission San Juan Bautista. He recommends anyone who would like to visit to specially see the hymnals handwritten by Padre Esbeban Tapis. They are a sure sight to be seen.