Welcome to the
Friends of
the Historic San Antonio Mission
The Friends of Historic San Antonio Mission is
dedicated to the preservation of the pristine historical and cultural setting of
the Mission San Antonio de Padua and the preservation of both Mission San
Antonio and nearby Mission San Miguel, the two Salinan
Missions in the California mission chain.
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Mission San Antonio de Padua was founded on July
14, 1771 by
Father Junipero Serra,
the 3rd n the 21 mission chain in
Alta California. The current
church was completed in 1813. By 1805 there were 1,300 Indians living at the
mission and in 1827, the mission had 7,362 cattle, 11,000 sheep, 500 mares
and 300 horses. The mission deteriorated
and after the 1906 quake only the front of the church and a few arches
remained. Restoration has returned it
to the beauty we see today. |
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 Mission
San Antonio circa 1905
Mission
San Antonio today |
 Milpitas Ranch House –
Hearst's “Hacienda”
In addition,
with its assembled expertise in preservation, especially with regards to adobe
structures, the Friends have special interest in Mission San Miguel Arcangel, recently damaged by an earthquake and in serious
need of restoration. Mission San Miguel is unique in the chain of missions
because its walls have the original Indian paintings. It is also near a large military reservation
– Camp Roberts. |
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Mission San Antonio is surrounded by
Fort Hunter Liggett, a US military reservation of
some 165,000 acres comprised primarily of the larger part of the approx
250,000 acre estate of William Randolph Hearst, an estate which includes the
“Hearst Castle” at San Simeon. On a
small rise on the land acquired by the military just overlooking Mission San
Antonio sits the Milpitas Hacienda, Hearst’s “hunting lodge”, designed by
Julia Morgan, who also designed the “Castle”.
A recent
study
by the National Park Service found that “the Milpitas Hacienda is nationally
significant…”.
It is surely one of the most beautifully situated and architecturally
pleasing structures in California.
The Hacienda is on the National Register, as are the Mission and several adobes of the 19th
century, including Dutton Hotel, the Jose Maria Gil Adobe, and the Tidball Store (partial adobe) – all on or surrounded by
Fort Hunter Liggett. Many have said that Mission San Antonio is
unique in that its locale remains largely the way it was. This sense of the historicity of the
district, with the nearby town of Jolon a true ghost town population: 0, is what the Friends of Historic San Antonio Mission
seek to preserve. |
Mission San Miguel after 2004 Quake –
Arcade – Front of Church - Sacristy
The Dutton Hotel (right), also on the
National Register is one of several
other historic adobes in need of
restoration. The district in the area
of Missions San Antonio and San Miguel
is particularly rich in adobes, and
remarkably undeveloped in recent times.
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Letter of Welcome:
The Friends of Historic San Antonio Mission welcomes persons who have an interest in these
beautiful Missions in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. Since its inception in 1991,
the FHSAM board of directors has worked to preserve the numerous cultural and historical
sites on the vast acreage surrounding the Missions, sites which, if further damaged or
destroyed, would compromise San Antonio Mission's unique setting, as well as the Missions
themselves.
While our Board of Directors comprises the actual "membership" of the Friends, we welcome
donations from "Supporters" who are interested in assisting us in this valuable task. Our
supporters receive periodic newsletters as well as the satisfaction of knowing they are
assisting in the preservation of the Mission's valuable heritage. I encourage you to
enroll as a Friends of Historic San Antonio Mission Supporter today!
Suggested tax-deductible donations are
$10.00 (suggested minimum)
$20.00
$30.00
Other $--------------
Send donations to
Friends of Historic San Antonio Mission
73501 W Highway 198
Coalinga, CA 93210
