Mission Santa Cruz

Mission Santa Cruz is a reconstructed mission station with adobe walls and wooden beams from the Spanish colonial period in Santa Cruz, California. The complex includes a chapel, a museum, and gardens that show the building style of the late 18th century.

Franciscan Father Fermín Lasuén founded this station in 1791 as the twelfth in the chain of California missions. An earthquake in 1857 destroyed large parts, and reconstruction followed later using old plans.

The name comes from the Holy Cross and recalls the early Franciscan presence in California. Visitors today see relics of the colonial past and can follow how daily life unfolded between missionaries and local people.

The site sits near downtown Santa Cruz and is easy to reach on foot or by bicycle. Tours and exhibits are accessible most days, and groups should register in advance.

The original church stood about 500 feet (150 meters) away from the current building. The museum holds handwritten records and tools that document the daily life of residents in the early 19th century.

Location: Santa Cruz

Website: http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=548

GPS coordinates: 36.97811,-122.02942

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22