U. S. Mission Trail - California Mission Santa Cruz

U. S. Mission Trail / The Mission Trail Today - The Spanish Missions in California

This site is owned, designed, and operated by Kenneth A. Larson who has over a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and Theme Parks using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design. Ken also has experience in other areas of Design.

Select photographs of my many visits to The Missions of the United States South and Southwest built by Spain and Mexico between 1565 and 1823.
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2008 - 2013.

Explanation.

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Previous Mission	South to North	Next Mission
Back	United States Main Page	California Main Page/Map

#12, Santa Cruz.
Founded August 28, 1791
by Father Fermin Lasuen.
Santa Cruz.

Personal Observations

I visited Mission Santa Cruz in November 2003, but forgot my wide angle lens and I hope to return to Mission Santa Cruz in 2004, with the correct lens. There is little left of the actual mission. Earthquakes in 1857 and 1859 destroyed the original church. A modern church (1889) stands where the mission church once sat. There is a piece of Indian housing remaining from the original mission. A small replica of the church was built in 1931 on a near by site.

I had just bought a new camera and unintentionally left my wide angle lens at home attached to my old camera. We do hope to return this year to reshoot some photos of this mission using my favorite lens.

Photo-Art
Mission Art & Photo-Art

History

The full Spanish name of the mission is "Misión la exaltación de la Santa Cruz.

The original mission was much larger than what remains today. When it was time to rebuild the mission church, the site was already occupied by a newer church, so a smaller reproduction was built nearby. The building at the lower right predated the Family Housing which remains today.

Address and Directions

Mission Plaza
High Street (at Emmet St.)
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Tele: 1-831-426-5686
Fax: 1-831-423-1043

Hours:
Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10-4
Sundays, 10-2
closed Mondays, except after major holiday weekends

Photography Gallery

Altar of reproduction church. The tabernacle doors are from the original church. 11-29-03.

Marker.

Note how small this reproduction church is. 11-29-03.

This reproduction of the church is a few hundred feet from the location of the original church. 11-29-03.

I unintentionally left my wide angle lens at home and plan to return and reshote these photos later this year.

Behind the half size reproduction church is a small garden.

The original baptismal fount. 11-29-03.

Statue to Mary. 11-29-03.

Statue of Father Junipero Serra. 11-29-03.

Altar of reproduction church. The tabernacle doors are from the original church. 11-29-03.

Note the reproduction half size mission church in the distance on the right. 11-29-03.

Note the top of the bell towers to the reproduction half size mission church and the replacement more modern church in the distance. 11-29-03.

Above and right. This building originally contained 17 rooms for family housing. Seven room remain. This is the oldest family housing building remaining in California. A similar building once existed about 200 feet north. The reproduction mission is midway between what would be the far end of these buildings if they existed. 11-29-03.

Roof of family housing. 11-29-03.

The family housing originally had 17 rooms, 7 remain. This is the end where the building once continued. 11-29-03.

Photo date: 11-29-03.

Photo date: 11-29-03.

Family Housing, interior. 11-29-03.

Caretta. 11-29-03.

Under this shelter are the remains of the last surviving wall of the earlier church. 11-29-03.

Old mission cemetery. 11-29-03.

Holy Cross Church replaced the earlier adobe church which was destroyed by an earthquake. 11-29-03.

Holy Cross Church is built on the foundations of the Mission Santa Cruz Church.

gallery links here

Sources:

Previous Mission	By Founding Date	Next Mission
Previous Mission	South to North	Next Mission
Back	United States Main Page	California Main Page/Map

Note:This is not the official site for any of the places shown in US Mission Trail. US Mission Trail is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, and exhibits are subject to change without notice.

Support this Web Site I hope that you find this web site helpful. It started because of my love for the California Missions and interest in History and a desire to share my photographs and tales of my adventures. I don't allow paid advertising. This web site is for your benefit and enjoyment and I make no profit on it. For twenty years it has been supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer. A non-tax deductable donation helps cover the cost of operating this web site and may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal.
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