San Juan Bautista, Historic mission town in San Benito County, California, US.
San Juan Bautista is a small town in San Benito County where the center is defined by original adobe buildings and structures dating to the 1800s. The main street still shows how daily life and commerce once concentrated around these buildings.
Mission San Juan Bautista began construction in 1803 and opened in 1812 as the fifteenth mission in California's chain of religious settlements. Its founding marked a turning point in how the region was colonized and developed.
El Teatro Campesino was founded here and continues to shape the performing arts with productions that bring Mexican-American stories and experiences to audiences. This cultural institution remains central to how the community expresses its identity through theater.
The town sits in a position where San Jose, Santa Cruz, and Monterey are each within a 45-minute drive. Visitors can easily explore different areas of the region, from valley towns to coastal destinations.
The San Andreas Fault runs directly through town, making it a key location for studying the 1906 earthquake and how the ground shifts along major fault lines. This geological feature has turned the place into a window onto the forces that shape the landscape.
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