La Purisima Mission - Lompoc California

La Purisima Mission in located near Lompoc, California. It is found at 2295 Purisima Road, which is only about two miles northeast of the city of Lompoc. La Purisima was the eleventh mission of twenty-one missions that were established by the Franciscan monks. La Purisima was founded by Padre Fermin de Lausen in December of 1787. The current mission is a restoration of the old one, which was destroyed by earthquake in 1812. The restoration began in 1934, and the mission contains many artifacts and buildings that highlight the history of the area. It is a short drive from Lompoc to the mission and a worthwhile experience for visitors.

The many missions, including La Purisima, were built in order to convert the local Chumash Indians to Christianity, and many of these local Indians were baptized into the Catholic faith. The mission had a variety of other purposes, as well. The mission became a community for the residents. A water system was developed to irrigate the crops and raise livestock. Over 100 adobe buildings were built during the mission’s heyday. The mission community grew quickly, with many inhabitants. La Purisima Mission was known for its weaving of cotton into cloth and wool into blankets. Making shoes was another task of the La Purisima mission population.

The fee to visit La Purisima is very reasonable. It is $4 per vehicle. The mission is open every day for self-guided tours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is not open on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years Day. Free guided tours with lots of interesting information are available every day starting at 1 p.m. The guided tours last about an hour to an hour and a half.

There are many things to do at La Purisima. Visitors can tour the various mission buildings, shop at the mission store, picnic in several beautiful settings, and hike the nearly twelve miles of trails in the area. Hiking is a great way to see many types of wildlife, including squirrels and the occasional snake.

La Purisima Mission also offers many activities. These include mission life days, which give visitors a chance to see how the residents of the mission lived, Village days, which showcase the crafts and skills of the local Chumash Indians, candlelight tours, etc. They also host a mission art show and sale and an annual celebration of the founding day of La Purisima.

While La Purisima is not the most imposing of the California missions, it is a very interesting and informative place to visit. The setting in the hills of central California provides an attractive backdrop for this historical site. They recently opened a new Visitor’s Center to enhance the La Purisima experience for all who go there.

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