| Teaching for Tomorrow, Today |
The Mission Timeline
By Professor Ruben G. Mendoza (1998)
1542: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo explores Monterey area by ship on November 16th.
1579: The pirate Sir Francis Drake (El Draque) sails past the Monterey Bay on June 15th.
1595: Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeño describes the Monterey Bay on December 9th.
1602: Sebastian Vizcaíno lands in Monterey and names harbor after the viceroy of Mexico (Don Gaspár de Zúñiga y Acevedo, El Conde de Monte Rey...first church mass said in Alta California.
1769: Capitan Gaspar de Portolá, Capitan Fernando Rivera y Moncada, 27 leather jackets, and Lt. Pedro Fages, Catalonian volunteers, and Fray Junípero Serra, christianized Indians from Mexico, Fray Juan Crespi, Miguel Costansó as engineer, and cartographer, Doctor Pedro Prat as surgeon arrive in Monterey to establish first explore the Monterey Bay for suitable settlments. Large cross planted and the party departs.
1770: On June 3rd Fray Serra and Portola, Crespi, Fages, and the volunteers found the mission and presidio of San Carlos de Borromeo de Monterey.
1772: Fray Juan Crespi and Captain Pedro Fages explore the San Juan Valley.
1797: Mission San Juan Bautista founded by Fray Fermin Francisco de Lasuen.
1803: Fathers Martiarena and Iturrate bless and lay Church cornerstone.
1812: Dedication of completed Mission Church.
1818: Via Cruces and the Paintings of the Apostles first hung in Mission church.
1822: Mexican insurgents overthrow Spanish Viceroy and declare Independence.
1824: Neophyte family housing completed.
1833: Old Mission secularized by the Mexican government.
1856: Angelo Zanetta converts Spanish cuartel or barracks into Plaza Hotel.
1859: President Buchannon returns former mission orchard and other properties.
1874: Father Rubio’s Victorian styled belfry and other alterations completed.
1906: Earthquake tumbles walls of Church side-aisles, convento, and orphanage.
1907: Father Closa organizes the first Fiesta devoted to Mission’s restoration.
1930: New rectory quarters constructed in area of original quadrangle.
1949: Father Rubio’s Victorian belfry dismantled and removed.
1953: Alfred Hitchcock first begins production on movie Vertigo at San Juan.
1976: Major restoration of Mission church for American Bicentennial.
1995: CSU Monterey Bay excavations of Mission courtyard commence in October.
1996: Reopening of Old Mission Museum rooms (Four Chimneys and Mission Model areas).
1997: Restoration of Chapel and reopening of Well for Mission’s Bicentennial.
1997: Mission’s Bicentennial celebrated on June 24th with blessing of restored chapel.
2000: Dedication and installation of bronze statue of Saint John on December 22nd.
2001:
Restoration of Casa Maria nears completion.
For
further information regarding Old Mission San Juan Bautista, please contact
Professor Mendoza at ruben_mendoza@monterey.edu.
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