Mission Santa Clara de Asís

Ms. MasonApril 2009

Mission FactsFirst mission named for a female8th Mission out of 21 missionsFounded in 1777 by Father Junipero SerraMission built 6 times in three places2 of the 3 bells were a gift from the King of Spain in 1799Wooden cross remains from 1854

GeographyFirst mission built in northern CaliforniaLocated in the Santa Clara Valley About 10 miles from the bottom of the San Francisco BayClose to the San Andreas Fault, the mission has suffered from earthquake damage--Most prominent was in 1818

Mission Life

Native Americans learned about Christianity and to speak SpanishMen learned to farm; women learned to cook sew clothingWell known for their cloth weavingMade and sold candlesBuilt “The Alameda” to connect the Pueblo of San José with the Mission and improve relationship

Mission Today

Current building built in 1929 (reconstruction of the 1825 building)Currently on the campus of Santa Clara UniversitySection of garden wall is all that remains of the 1825 building

If I Were In Charge

Good fertile ground created a prosperous successful mission.Wouldn’t change a thing!