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La Purisima Mission Lompoc

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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.

La Purisima Mission 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.
 
La Purisima Mission Garden Lompoc California
La Purisima Mission Gardens
 
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 that live at the mission 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.
La Purisima Mission Chapel
La Purisima Mission Chapel
La Purisima Mission main building
La Purisima Mission in Lompoc
La Purisima Mission visitor center
 
La Purisima Mission farm animal
 
La Purisima Mission entance
 
La Purisima Mission fountain
 
La Purisima Mission old cart
 
Click on image for larger picture
 
 
La Purisima Mission was the eleventh mission of the twenty-one Spanish Missions established in what became California. Mission 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

You Might Like:
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission Banta Barbara
Mission San Luis Rey
Mission Inn Riverside
Solvang Village
Mission San Juan Capistrano one of the most famous Spanish missions in California.
Mission Santa Barbara historic church you will find extensive gradens established in 1786.
Mission San Luis Rey located in Oceanside california. Just a few miles from the coast
Mission Inn Riverside Winchester Mystery House meets Hearst Castle.
Solvang Village a major tourist attraction in the Santa Ynez Valley of California
 
 
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