The San Juan Bautista Mission was founded on 24 June, 1797 by Padre Fermin Fransisco de Lasuen. Barracks, a nunnery and other large buildings were built around a central grassy courtyard making the whole plot seem peaceful and inviting to visitors. Today the Church can be seen in its original form, daily mass has continued here every day since it began in 1797.
Although the buildings have been lovingly restored, the original layout of the Mission remains unchanged. A three-bell campanario (bell-wall) was added which includes the one of the original chimes.
The San Juan Bautista Mission was a very popular mission and by 1803 there were over one thousand Indians living there. To provide for the growing community there were a thousand head of cattle nearly five thousand sheep, over five hundred horses and eight mules counted at the Mission. Aside from the religious work ongoing at the church, the farming and ranching was a full time occupation for many.
The Mission has suffered the effects of weather and accidents since it was first built, having the original bell tower destroyed in the California earthquake of 1906; there was also a fire which destroyed the first bell tower.
This is the largest of all California's missions and has three aisles inside the church compared with the usual single central aisle. Originally the church has nine bells, only three of which remain. As with many of the other missions still in operation today, there is a working museum and gift shop.
