Our The mission of State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and oday the complex education of the people of California by helping T Mission to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological of buildings standing diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities on the site of the State Historic Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. Santa Cruz Mission is a testament to the strength of the early missionaries and the California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at hard work of the original (831) 425-5849. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected]. Indian inhabitants.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park 144 School Street Santa Cruz, California 95060 (831) 425-5849

© 2005 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) N estled against the coastal hills on the abalone pendants, quail plumes, and the mission was first built near the mouth of northern shore of picturesque Monterey woodpecker feathers. They traded mussels, the . The mission flooded Bay lies Santa Cruz Mission State Historic abalone shells, and salt in exchange for the first winter, and Father Lasuén had to Park. Built twelfth in the chain of California obsidian and other items with the Yokuts, relocate to higher ground. The new location missions, Santa Cruz Mission has only one who lived across the coastal mountains in had a commanding view of the surrounding remaining original building — an adobe that the San Joaquin Valley. Today’s descendants area, good climate, fertile soil and — from housed converted native families. of the preserve and celebrate nearby Mission San José — native people Despite the tenacity of early Franciscan their heritage. familiar with Christianity. Construction began missionaries to make the mission system Spanish Settlers on the mission complex in 1793. The church successful, Santa Cruz Mission residents and mission quadrangle, complete with grist Spanish missionaries learned of the coastal experienced many difficulties. Their stories mill, two-story granary, and workshops, were land surrounding Monterey Bay from early are interpreted here. completed in 1795. explorers. Gaspar de Portolá, in his quest Summers in downtown Santa Cruz can be The second Santa Cruz mission faced to find the famed Monterey Bay, passed warm with occasional fog, while the winters numerous challenges, earning it the along the northern shore of Monterey Bay in are cool with some rain. The weather can nickname of “The Hard Luck Mission.” October 1769. change quickly. Diseases swept through the mission’s Misión la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz neophyte population; many ran away or PARK HISTORY became the twelfth of 21 missions rebelled at hard labor and an unfamiliar established in . Founded on Native People diet. The mission’s decline was further August 28, 1791, by Father Fermín Lasuén, This land of abundance was home to the accelerated when Alta California Governor Ohlone Indians. Originally living in small independent tribes, neighbors often shared a similar language. The Ohlone lived in domed structures thatched with tule reeds. Groups moved seasonally to prime locations within their territories to fish, hunt, or collect plants. They ate processed acorns, seeds, berries, and roots, supplemented with meat from large and small game animals, waterfowl, and sea life. The Ohlone also pruned, harvested, and burned the grasslands to encourage fresh plant growth and to attract such small animals as deer and rabbits. Skilled artisans, the Ohlone twined and coiled baskets — many decorated with Courtesy of Los Angeles County Museum Natural History Painting of Santa Cruz Mission by Edward Deakin Diego Borica established the pueblo some were damaged or stolen (although across the river. Although later returned). Bouchard never Spanish law forbade the establishment of attacked, and the Santa Cruz Mission a pueblo within a league (three miles) of a struggled to maintain good relationships mission, Borica expected Santa Cruz Mission with its neophytes, pueblo neighbors, to support the pueblo. and the government. However, the goals and customs of the Santa Cruz Mission was among the first two settlements were not compatible. As California missions to be secularized the local native population declined, the in 1834. Little of value was offered to padres looked to the nearby Yokuts in the the Indian residents. Time and the San Joaquin Valley as an alternate source of elements quickly brought about the converts; later the resorted to mission complex’s collapse. In 1840, an recruiting native converts by force. earthquake destroyed the mission bell Students examine a foxskin arrow quiver. Another blow to the weakened Santa Cruz tower; a second quake on January 9, Mission occurred in 1818 when French pirate 1857, toppled the front wall of the church families built and lived in while they worked Hippolyte Bouchard — known for plundering and crumbled most remaining buildings. at the mission. Its seven rooms (out of an Although Mission Santa Cruz had been original 17) house a museum that shows the disbanded and the padres scattered, its changes that occurred in the native people’s influence on the surrounding community lives when they came to the mission. remained. In 1845 Branciforte and the settlements on former mission lands ACCESSIBLE FEATURES assumed the permanent name of Santa • The historic buildings have narrow Cruz. A wooden church was built near the doors and raised thresholds, but they collapsed mission buildings and dedicated are generally accessible. on July 4, 1858, to serve the Santa Cruz • Parking, the visitor center, bookstore, community. In 1891 the Holy Cross Church, picnic area, and restrooms are accessible. a brick structure, replaced the original mission church. PLEASE REMEMBER Primitive spinning wheel on exhibit The Mission Grounds Today • Living history demonstrations are often Today a complex of buildings stands on scheduled on weekends. California’s missions and communities under the site of the original Santa Cruz Mission, • Restrooms are located near the picnic area. the Argentine flag — was reported off the including a half-scale replica of the original • School programs are available. Monterey coast. Governor Borica ordered church that contains some surviving • For reservations and park hours, call Father Ramon Olbés to flee 30 miles north mission relics. (831) 425-5849. with the remaining Indians to Mission Santa The only remaining original mission • Free school-report information is Clara. Branciforte residents were ordered to building is the adobe that the Indian available; please inquire. save the Santa Cruz Mission’s valuables, but Santa Cruz Mission NEARBY STATE PARKS 1 • Henry Cowell Redwoods SP • State Historic Park 5 miles north of Santa Cruz on 4 miles south of Santa Cruz on Holy Cross Church Site of Original Church Highway 9, (831) 335-4598 Highway 1, (831) 464-6329

Highway 1 • Natural Bridges State Beach • High Street in Santa Cruz on West Cliff Drive 1401 Old Coast Road High Street (831) 423-4609 Santa Cruz 95060 (831) 423-9703

Santa Cruz Mission Plaza Santa Cruz Mission Chapel and Reliquary Sylvar Street (Modern half-scale Replica)

(Fountain) School Street 0 100 200 Feet

Adobe Street

0 20 40 60 Meters Emmett Street © 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) Holy Cross School Mission Park Entrance Adobe Visitor Center & Bookstore Mission Street P

Green Street Patio/Picnic Mission Street Area Park Office (Business Only) 9 to San Jose Pacific Avenue Big Basin 85 Redwoods Los Henry W Castle Coe SP SP Rock 17 Gatos SP San Morgan Legend Lorenzo 9 River Scotts Hill 101 1 Valley Road Henry Cowell Redwoods SP Soquel Davenport Gilroy State Park CapitolaNew Brighton SB 152 Wilder Ranch SP Park Building Seacliff Natural Bridges SB Santa SB 1 Watsonville San Juan Non-Park Building Cruz Santa Cruz t This park is supported in part by Bautista e One Way Street e r Mission SHP t a nonprofit organization. For more S Chestnut Street

Accessible Feature Fremont information contact: Monterey Castroville 101 Peak SP r e Bay P t Parking n Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

e 1 C 0 5 10 15 Miles 183 Picnic Area 144 School Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 25 Kilometers50 201510 Salinas (831) 429-1840 to Monterey Marina Restrooms