10 Interesting San Antonio de Padua Facts

Sunday, May 10th 2015. | History


San Antonio de Padua Facts talk about the Spanish Mission established on 14 July 1771. The founder of the mission was Father Presidente Junípero Serra in Alta California. It was the third mission located there.  If you want to visit the mission, you just have to go to Monterey County, California.  Get more interesting facts about San Antonio de Padua below:

San Antonio de Padua Facts 1: Mission San Antonio de Padua today

Today, the mission is a parish church. In the past, the first Christian marriage was conducted in this mission. The usage of the fired tile roofing was applied in the mission for the first time in Upper California.

San Antonio de Padua Facts 2: the name

The Mission is called San Antonio de Padua because father Junipero Serra dedicated it to Saint Anthony of Padua. The site was claimed on 14 July 1771 by Father Serra.

San Antonio de Padua

San Antonio de Padua

San Antonio de Padua Facts 3: who was San Anthony of Padua?

Saint Anthony of Padua was famous as the patron saint of the poor. He was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195.

San Antonio de Padua Facts 4: the construction

The construction of the mission actually started in 1810 even though father Serra had planned to build the mission before.  At that time, the site of the Mission was inhabited by 178 Native American people. Find out facts about Mission Santa Cruz here.

San Antonio de Padua Pic

San Antonio de Padua Pic

San Antonio de Padua Facts 5: the number of the Native American

The number of the Native Americans who lived in the mission increased up to 1,300 in 1805. However, the total number of the Native Americans decreased rapidly in 150 people after the secularization laws in 1834.

San Antonio de Padua Facts 6: the towns

There was no town located around the mission of San Antonio de Padua. Mexican Governor Pío Pico stated that all mission buildings in Alta California were on sale in 1845. However, no one gave their bid for Mission San Antonio.

San Antonio de Padua Inside

San Antonio de Padua Inside

San Antonio de Padua Facts 7: restoration

In 1903, the first attempt to restore the mission came in. There were outings conducted in San Antonio by California Historical Landmarks League.

San Antonio de Padua Facts 8: the fund

Native Sons of the Golden West funded the restoration by giving $1,400. The chapel was restored by eliminating tons of debris. On 18 April 1906, the mission was damaged again after it was hit by an earthquake.

San Antonio de Padua Image

San Antonio de Padua Image

San Antonio de Padua Facts 9: Franciscan Friars

There was service held by Franciscan Friars in the mission in 1928. Get facts about Mission Santa Barbara here.

San Antonio de Padua Facts 10: State of California

To complete the restoration of the mission, the state of California has to collect the fund around $12 to $15 million or this mission will be closed.

Are you interested reading facts about San Antonio de Padua?


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