La
Purisima Mission Lompoc California
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La
Purisima Mission in Lompoc, California is one of
the state’s most complete missions with activities that
are popular for school field trips and visitors. The first
thing you notice when you pull into the parking lot is that
there is no mission. All you can see is a modern looking visitor
center and a few old buildings off in the distance. Don't
be disappointed, there is a mission, but do take the time
to walk through the visitor center. There are some excellent
displays about mission life plus a happy park ranger on duty
to answer any questions you may have. Be sure to pay for parking
all of us need to help keep our California parks open. Every
dollar helps and La Purisima Mission State Historic Park is
worth every penny of your parking fee. The visitor center
has a bookstore and gift shop where many artifacts that are
created by local Native Americans and people who still work
at the mission. Ok
now where is the mission? Take a walk down the hill form the
visitor center and across a small bridge (watch out for poison
oak) and all of a sudden your back in the early days of California.
The Mission and surrounding buildings are really an amazing
site as you enter the mission grounds. Be sure to pet the
friendly burros as you walk across the field to La
Purisima Mission.
you will soon see why this is the most complete mission in
California. You can spend hours exploring the buildings and
surrounding gardens. All roads are hidden from view and its
easy to imagine what life was like at
LA Purisima when it was a hub of activities for the Lompoc
area of California. If you only ever visit one California
Mission make La Purisima Mission
the one. This is truly a fascinating place and an excellent
day trip for all.
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One very popular
event at the mission is the Mission Life Days. Many people work
hard to make these days fun and educational for any age. They
allow you to walk around the property and sample what life was
like in the old mission days. You can participate in grinding
corn to make tortillas, making your own soap, or your own nails
out of melted metal.
During the People Days events, you can watch costumed people
as they act out real life at the mission, give lectures, and
host tours.
Village Days offers more hands on activities along with more
games and things related to the Chumash Indian tribe.
The other notable event is the semi-annual visit by the American
Mountain Men who camp out and talk to people about life in the
1800’s. There are also the many hiking trails that many
people use. The animals are unique, some of them huge and represent
the animals that would have inhabited the people who lived and
worked at the mission over a hundred years ago.
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| La Purisima Mission
was the eleventh mission of the twenty-one Spanish Missions established
in what became California. Mision La Purisima Concepcion de Maria
Santisima was founded on December 8, 1787 by Franciscan Padre
Presidente Fermin Francisco Lasuen. 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. |
La
Purisima Mission 2295 Purisima Road Lompoc,
CA 93436 (805) 733-3713 |
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