Statues of Junípero Serra

The nine-foot-four statue depicts Father Serra standing with his head turned left, holding a book, rosary, and walking stick in Franciscan attire.

John Palo-Kangas created the original concrete statue in 1936 during the Federal Art Project, which was later replaced with a bronze cast in 1989.

The statue represents Father Serra's establishment of Mission San Buenaventura in 1782 and his role in founding California's mission system.

The monument stands in the mission garden after its relocation from City Hall, offering visitors a central point to learn about California's Spanish colonial period.

Local wood carvers produced a wooden replica of the original deteriorating concrete statue to serve as the model for the current bronze version.

Location: Ventura

Inception: 1936

Creator: John Palo-Kangas

Made from material: bronze, clay, concrete, wood

GPS coordinates: 34.28198,-119.29310

Latest update: March 7, 2025 16:16