Saved by the Bell

Mission San Juan Capistrano regularly rings its historic bells.

When California's missions began falling into disrepair most could have been easily lost forever. Less than century after being built they were starting see wear. The mission era from 1769 to 1833 ended when the Mexican government secularized the missions, dividing their lands into grants which transformed them into ranchos. Mexican Congress passed the Act for the Secularization of the Missions of California on August 17, 1833, specifying sale of the mission property to private interests.

Mission San Juan Capistrano was the first to be served the "Decree of Confiscation" on August 9, 1834. In two short years the system was dismantled and the Franciscans packed up and took almost everything of value with them. Oftentimes what remained were the church bells and a few other items too heavy or less important to take with them.

Missions were then plundered for construction materials.

How did the missions come back to life?

Artists, entrepreneurs, historians, authors and concerned citizens helped promote the legacy and history of the missions in campaigns to reinvigorate or save the damaged buildings.

Many deals were brokered to keep the land where the main mission buildings sat. Several missions are now part of the California State Parks system. Millions of dollars have been spent to rebuild decaying structures in the style of the original missions--they exist in varying degrees of architectural integrity. However, California is home to the greatest number of well-preserved missions (of any state) in the U.S.