Currently the only example in California of a complete Spanish Catholic mission complex, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970
Lompoc, CA, 93436
9am to 5pm Daily
Visitor Center Hours:
10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday
La Tienda Gift Shop Hours:
12pm to 4pm Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
11am to 3pm Sunday
Holiday Mondays 11am TO 4pm Closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's
$6.00 - for Private Vehicle per car - Use the Automated Pay Machine which accepts credit cards.
$5.00 - for Seniors (62 and over) per car
From Los Angeles (150 miles): Get on US-101 N. Follow US-101 N to CA-1 N in Santa Barbara County. Take exit 132 from US-101 N. Continue on CA-1 N.
Overview
Mission La Purísima Concepción, or La Purísima Mission (originally La Misión de la Purísima Concepción de la Santísima Virgen María, or The Mission of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary) is a Spanish mission in Lompoc, California. It was established on December 8, 1787 (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, hence the mission's name) by the Franciscan order. The original mission complex south of Lompoc was destroyed by an earthquake in 1812, and the mission was rebuilt at its present site a few miles to the northeast.
La Purísima Mission State Historic Park
La Purísima Mission is now part of the La Purísima Mission State Historic Park within the California State Parks System. With a visitor center and guided tours, the historic park is maintained by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).
La Purísima Mission State Historic Park is a state park unit of California, United States, containing La Purísima Mission, considered to be the most completely restored Spanish mission in California. Ten of the original buildings are fully restored and furnished, including the church, shops, quarters, and blacksmith shop. The mission gardens and livestock represent what would have been found at the mission during the 1820s. Special living history events are scheduled throughout the year. A visitor center features information, displays and artifacts, and a self-guided tour gives visitors the opportunity to step back in time for a glimpse of a brief, turbulent period in California's history. Located outside Lompoc, California, the 1,934-acre (783 ha) park was established in 1935.
History
Misión de la Purísima Concepción de la Santísima Virgen María — "Mission of the Immaculate Conception of Most Holy Mary" — was founded by Father Presidente Fermin de Lasuén on December 8, 1787. It was the eleventh of 21 Franciscan Missions established in Alta California.
A major earthquake on December 21, 1812, destroyed many of the mission buildings. Father Mariano Payeras received permission to relocate the mission community 4 miles (6.4 km) to the northeast in La Cañada de los Berros, next to El Camino Real. La Purísima Mission was officially established in its new location on April 23, 1813. Materials salvaged from the buildings destroyed by the earthquake were used to construct the new buildings, which were completed within ten years.
The end of the California missions came in 1834, when the Mexican government, which had gained independence from Spain, transferred control of the missions from the Catholic Church to civil authorities. The property passed into private ownership and the mission buildings fell into ruin. In 1933 the Union Oil Company deeded several parcels to the State of California. Under direction of the National Park Service, the Civilian Conservation Corps restored or reconstructed many of the mission's adobe buildings.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "La Purisima Mission", and "La Purísima Mission State Historic Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
