Mission Santa Cruz

Mission Santa Cruz was consecrated on August 29, 1791and named for the "Celebration of the Sacred Cross," the name that the explorer Gaspar de Portola had given to the area when he camped on the banks of the San Lorenzo River on October 17, 1769 and erected a wooden cross. Today, Mission Santa Cruz functions as a museum open to visitors; the replica chapel, located near the original Mission site has weekday masses and is available for weddings and funerals. "Plaza Park," which is situated at the center of the former Mission complex, was at one time the site of 32 buildings.^[2]

Visitor Info

Replica Chapel:
126 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 831-426-5686

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park:
144 School Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 831-425-5849

Mission Fun Facts [1]
Name as Founded	La Misión de la Exaltación de la Santa Cruz
English Translation	The Mission of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Founding Date	September 25, 1791
Founding Order	Twelfth

History Timeline^[1]

1791 - Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen founds the 12th mission on August 28 in honor of the "The Exaltation of the Holy Cross."
1794 - Construction of the chapel is completed after one year of construction.
1795 - Quadrangle of the mission compound is completed.
1797 - Nearby, "Villa de Branciforte" is established.
1818 - French Pirate Hippolyte de Bouchard appears off shore causing the mission fathers and residents to flee inland.
1822 - Adobe Indian housing which is now owned and operated by "California State Parks" is completed a half block away from the mission chapel.
1834 - Mission is secularized.
1858 - The severely damaged chapel is raised and replaced by a wood frame chapel on the foundation of the old mission chapel.

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Missions of Alta California