Founded: January 12, 1777
Founder: Father Junipero Serra
Status: An active Catholic Church and Jesuit University
Indian tribes native to surrounding area: Ohlone, Costanoan, Miwok, Yokuts
Location: 500 E. Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053
Google Map
Mission Santa Clara de Asís was the second mission established in the San Francisco Bay area. It was the first California mission to honor a female saint.
With its fertile land and large Indian population, the Bay Area proved an excellent location for the mission, and it quickly became one of the most prosperous in the mission system.
Together with the San Francisco Presidio and Mission Dolores (San Francisco de Asís), the mission created a strong Spanish presence and control of the bay area.
At approximately same time, a civilian pueblo, or settlement, was established at nearby San Jose. The mission church was used by the people of Pueblo de San Jose until the construction of St. Joseph’s Church in 1803.
Initially, there was friction between the mission and the San Jose community, including disputes over cattle grazing and water rights. Eventually, a four mile road, The Alameda, was built connecting the communities, and leading to better relations. The Alameda is still in use today, a busy multi-lane commuter route.
In 1851, the Jesuit order took possession of the remaining mission buildings, and established a center for higher learning that eventually became Santa Clara University (the oldest university in California).
Key Events
1777 – Mission founded on site near San Jose Airport.
1779 – First mission church abandoned due to flooding; second church built on higher ground.
1784 – Second mission abandoned; third church built near current location at Santa Clara University.
1818 – Third mission church destroyed by earthquake.
1825 – Fourth church built (on location of current church).
1836 – Mission secularized.
1846 – Mission returned to the Catholic church.
1851 – Control of the mission is transferred to the Jesuits; it forms the nucleus of Santa Clara University.
1926 – Fourth church destroyed by fire.
1928 – Current church built.
Visiting the Santa Clara de Asís Mission
Very little remains of previous mission buildings, aside from a few adobe walls. The current church is actually the fifth at Mission Santa Clara! It was constructed in 1928, modeled on a previous structure built in 1825 (and destroyed by fire). It contains a number of statues and furnishings from earlier eras. The church was expanded and given a new facade in 1961.
There is a tall cross, erected in 1777, across from the church entrance. Also note the four bells in the companario; one dates to 1798 and was donated by King Carlos IV of Spain. The bells have been rung each evening since 1798 in commemoration of the gift.
The rose garden on the right side of the church was once the mission cemetery.
There is also a large cross and historical marker plaque commemorating the site of the third church; it is located in a small park at the end of Franklin Street, at the Northeast corner of the University grounds.
The Santa Clara University, where the mission church is located, is a beautiful and historic setting in its own right, and well worth a visit.
Photo by JaGa.
at the site of the original mission.
the adobe brick construction.
Peralta Adobe & Fallon House Historic Site
