Mission San Antonio de Padua
In case you didn’t already know, I’m in California at the moment. I’m here for two training courses; this means I’m fortunate enough to have a free weekend here.
Yesterday I drove 140 miles to visit Mission San Antonio de Padua. It’s one of the original missions that the Spanish Catholics built when they were trying to bring civilisation to Native Americans. It was the third such mission built, and was founded on 14th July 1771. Since then it’s moved from its original location, grown and shrunk, fallen into disrepair and been restored, but all the while it’s remained an active mission community.
There are some missions that are closer than this, but I chose to visit this site in particular because it’s the most authentic of those that are still standing. Many of the remaining missions have had towns grow around them, but Mission San Antonio de Padua is unique because it’s a little isolated and unlikely to have anything built around it. It helps that it’s situated in the middle of an active US Army base.
To visit the mission you have to leave highway 101, take 15 miles of country backroads, then present yourself at the gatehouse of Fort Hunter Liggett. The guard will ask for drivers licence and car registration/insurance details (or hire car agreement), look over you and the car, then let you through. A further 6 miles into the base and you arrive at the mission. It’s just near the main buildings of the Army base, as can be seen from above.
The buildings are traditional Native American adobe buildings (mud and straw). It was the first building in California to be covered with fired clay roof tiles.
It was also the site of the first Catholic marriage in California.
The church at the centre of the missions is fairly large with a raised bell at the front (at the right in the top picture of this post).
Next to the church is a large quadrangle that’s referred to as the Padre’s Garden (second photo in this post). That’s surrounded by the main missions buildings. Many of the walls and doors facing into the garden are painted with themes relating to mission life and the local wildlife (some of which were circling overhead while I was there).
There’s a public gallery of mission photos on SmugMug. No photos of the army base. 
The old missions are really interesting. Glad you have been able to see a bit more of California
What the heck! You’re in California, and we didn’t plan a photowalk?
SF doesn’t count you know. They’re all in their own world. I’m only a short trip south of there anyway!
Great write up Andrew. Saw that you went on a photowalk in San Franciso, would have loved to join you guys. Enjoy your stay in the states
Definitely. Really worthwhile. It was a 280 mile round trip, but as a day trip I wouldn’t hesitate to say yes.
The added bonus is that you get to see a lot more of California than just San Francisco. Once you’re on the 101 south of San Jose traffic thins a bit and you drive through some really nice farmland.
The people staffing the museum are really friendly and happy to chat about what life was like in the past. You get a good sense of that walking around too.
(Just ignore the occasional clatter of large calibre gunfire. They’re not shooting at you.)
Well, was it worth the (rather long) trip? We’re going to be in SF in a month and I’ve always wanted to go to one of the Missions (went to The Mission in SF itself last year). Maybe track down the one in ‘Vertigo’, though I know that the tower was an addition just for the film
The old missions are really interesting. Glad you have been able to see a bit more of California