Museum

The museum for this Mission is in a room off the gift shop. There are many interesting items displayed in this single room. Look carefully; some are fairly well hidden amidst the quantity of items in total.

This Mission model takes up the bottom of one of the display cases. It shows the Mission as it might have looked at its peak...

Picture taken 1:55pm 14 Sep 2003

Note that the cemetery is now part of the school and the main quadrangle for the Mission is now much smaller and shops sit over a major portion of it past the garden area.

Of particular interest are the altar stone, chalice, and paten; all believed to be original to the Mission.

Picture taken 1:55pm 14 Sep 2003

The marble altar stone has a small hole in it plugged by a marble plug. The relic(s) of some Saint would have been in the small hole and the thus consecrated stone could then be placed on an altar allowing the Padre to consecrate the bread and wine. This stone was used during the first Mass at the Mission on 31 March 1782. Likewise, the chalice and paten, used to hold the wine and bread, are thought to be the same used by Blessed Serra during that first Mass and future Masses at the Mission.

Picture taken 1:55pm 14 Sep 2003

Music was a major feature of Mission life. Here you see the remains of one of the cellos used at the Mission.

Picture taken 1:55pm 14 Sep 2003

Several of the larger displays in the museum include the confessional on the left and the original Mission doors, one of which is shown to the right. Note the wavy pattern in the door. This is a representation of the "river of life."

Picture taken 1:55pm 14 Sep 2003

Perhaps the most fascinating exhibit in the museum are the two wooden bells; one hanging and shown here, the other sitting on top of one of the display cases. There are many theories about why this Mission had wooden bells for a long period in its history (the bells are thought to date from 1861 or 1862 and probably hung in the cupola until at least 1907 and perhaps later).

Picture taken 1:55pm 14 Sep 2003

Looking up into the bell Picture taken 1:55pm 14 Sep 2003

Despite the various romantic theories...

• Used to decoy the pirate Hippolyte Bouchard in 1818,
• Replace bells destroyed in 1812 by an earthquake,
• Used during Holy Week when metallic bells ringing were prohibited,

...the most logical explanation is simply that the bells were carved and hung to fit spaces where metal bells once hung at the request of Padre Juan Comapala. There is a wooden bell hanging at Mission La Purisima that serves the same purpose.

In any event, the bells were carved in two halves which were joined together using butterfly fasteners and metal plates (which you can see above) inside. The wood used was mahogany with the pegs being redwood. To the casual observer, the bells look like they were carved from a single piece of wood.

California Landmark

No landmark plaque exists at this site.

That's the end of the tour. Thank you. Please visit the other missions.

For a Flash video of this Mission and other resources see The California Mission Resource Center site.