View of parts of Mission San Juan Capistrano in ruins, Orange County, ca.1900

Abstract

Photograph of a view of parts of Mission San Juan Capistrano in ruins, Orange County, ca.1900. The arched recess appears to be a stage or an alter. There are about nine arched recesses in the back wall. Fallen adobe bricks and rocks cover the ground (at right). Tall grass covers the ground at left. Caption reads: "triple arch and ruined tower, San Juan Capistrano Mission, Cal."; "Located in the middle of the San Juan Valley, the mission sits right on the San Andreas fault! Although its location right on the fault was less dangerous than other locations, it accounted for many shaky days and nights. In October 1798 the shaking was so bad that the missionaries slept outside for the whole month. The earth shook as many as 6 times on one day, leaving many huge cracks in both the buildings and the ground. Since the mission population was growing so quickly, when an earthquake destroyed the church in 1803 plans were already underway to build a larger church. Much of the interior was painted by Thomas Doak, a sailor from Boston who jumped ship in Monterey, thereby becoming the first Anglo-American resident in California. Although he was not a great artist, he did work for just room and board, and the colors he mixed were so durable that they continue to glow today. After secularization in 1835 the church continued to serve as a parish for the local town. After sustaining some damage from a quake in 1906, it was repaired and then suffered through some attempts at modernization. Fortunately, in 1949, the Hearst Foundation financed the restoration that restored it to its original form." -- unknown author