Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1776 by Father Junipero Serra for Spain.
Mission San Juan Capistrano, historic landmark and museum, is the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago as the seventh of twenty missions statewide and features a chapel still standing where Saint Serra once celebrated Mass.
Today, Mission San Juan Capistrano is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. Originally built as a self sufficient community by Spanish Padres and Native Americans, the Mission was a center for agriculture, industry, education and religion.
From the Mission San Juan Capistrano website.
