Mission Trail Today - The California Missions
#14, San José
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This site is owned, designed, and operated by Mission enthusiast Kenneth A. Larson who has over a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and other areas of environmental design using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design.
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All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003 - 2008.
Select photographs of my many visits to The California Missions built by Spain and Mexico between 1769 and 1823.
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#14, San José.
Founded June 11, 1797
by Father Fermin Lasuen.
Fremont
Personal Observations
I have a very fuzzy memory of seeing the Mission San José Convento many years ago. On December 26, 2003, my wife and I visited San José for my first official visit. It was decorated for Christmas. Mission San Jose is lcated in the city of Fremont, some distance north of the City of San Jose. The address is 43300 Mission Boulevard; Fremont, California.
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Photo-Art
Mission Art & Photo-Art
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History
The first mission church was built a short distance north of the present site along with other temporary thatched-roof buildings. The first permanent church was completed in 1809. This adobe church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1868. A wooden church, looking very different from the adobe church, was built on the same site in 1869. A Victorian rectory was built between the wooden church and the last remnant of the adobe convento. In 1979, the rectory was removed and in 1982, the wooden church was sold for a dollar and moved to the nearby community of Burlingame. This cleared the way in 1984 & 5 to reconstruct the adobe church as closely as possible to the original - considered the most authentic reproductions of all the California missions. Today when you visit Mission San José, you will see the reproduction adobe church and about half of the original adobe convento. The old cemetery is accessible through the church.
When the mission was first established, there were hostilities with the native population and convesions were slow. In time, San José had more converts than any other Northern California mission.
As with all the missions, agriculture was important to Mission San José. In addition to 20,000 head of cattle and sheep, fruits, wheat, and corn were produced here.
Address and Directions
43300 Mission Blvd at Washington Blvd
Fremont California 94539
Mailing address:
PO Box 3159
Fremont, California 94539
Photography Gallery
Front exterior of church. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Church interior. Note the Christmas trees. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Front exterior of church. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Front exterior of church. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Front exterior of church, detail of bell tower. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Front exterior of church, detail of buttress. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Front of church and Convento. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Front of church and Convento. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Front of church. Photo date: 12-26-03.
Doors. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Museum. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Plaza side. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Plaza side. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Plaza side. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Plaza side. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Plaza side. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Plaza side. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Church interior. Photo date: 12-26-03.
Cemetery and church. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Cemetery side door to church. Note the skull and cross-bones above the door as a symble of a cemetery. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Cemetery and church. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Bell Tower. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Cemetery. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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Cemetery. Photo date: 12-26-03.
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new images from 2010
gallery links here
Support this Web Site
This web site started because of my love for the Spanish Missions in the United States. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. My wife sells Gold Canyon products at www.valleygirlcandles.com and I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ...
Or, donations can be mailed to the address on the contact page.
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This site began as a light hearted alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.
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Copyright © 2003 - 2009, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved.
Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website.
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This page last updated: Wednesday, 16-Jun-2010 23:45:10 CDT
