| The La Purisima Mission was
founded on December 8, 1787. It was the first to be
dedicated by Father Lasuen. The mission was first built
from mud plaster. In 1800 a stronger adobe mission was
built. The mission once had 10,000 livestock, plus
agriculture including a vineyard.
The mission suffered
many challenges. It was severely damaged in the 1812
earthquake. Later, an earthquake broke a dam upstream
causing the mission, equipment, irrigation system and
crops to be flooded. A drought in 1816 and 1817 then
caused crops and livestock to die.
A new mission was completed in 1818. This new mission
was built in a straight line, rather than the traditional
quadrangle. This made it easier to evacuate during an
earthquake. Unfortunately, the mission continued to face
problems. A fire in 1818 damaged some of the buildings.
Then in 1824, the native indians revolted and occupied
the mission for a month until driven out by soldiers.
The mission deteriorated after secularization. Many of
the remaining natives died from a smallpox epidemic in
1844.
In 1930, the land was given to the National Park
Service for restoration. It is now a state historical
monument. |
