La Purísima Concepción

Mission La Purísima Concepcíon
Mission La Purísima Concepción. Courtesy of Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library.

History of Mission La Purísima Concepción

Mission La Purísima Concepción, the eleventh mission in the chain, was founded by Father Lasuén on December 8th, 1787; the feast day of the immaculate conception of Mary the Most Pure.

The only California mission not organized around a quadrangle, Mission La Purísima was built in a linear fashion. The mission leaders choose the linear layout to avoid flooding patterns and because the mission leaders felt the docile Chumash did not need to be contained within the typical fortress like quadrangle.

The mission sits on a sprawling nine hundred sixty eight acres of land and is today surrounded by two thousand acres of parkland. The landscape is home to a wide variety of crops and animals where still today horses, cows and deer room the mission grounds.

The structure of Mission La Purísima has been rebuilt several times. The first mission complex, originally built at the Indian village of Algascupi, collapsed and was rebuilt of adobe in 1802, but an earthquake in 1812 brought the mission down again. In the spring of 1813, the mission was rebuilt about three miles from its original site in the Valley of Watercress.

On a military front, defense was important in the survival of each mission. The mission had a squad of five soldiers called Soldado de Cuera, or leather-coated soldiers, because they wore short protective coats made of animal hide. They lived here to protect the mission from intruders and to maintain order.

In 1824, an Indian revolt that started in Santa Inés spread to Mission La Purísima. With the soldiers unable to keep control, the rebellious Indians captured the mission for nearly thirty days. The revolt caused great damage along with the deaths of sixteen Indians and one soldier. It wasn’t until state guards were sent from the Santa Barbara Presidio that the disturbance ended.

Mission La Purísima is a “living history” museum and a site for frequent reenactments and encampments. Volunteer group The Prelado de los Tesoros de la Purisma annually hosts “Mission Days” in which area residents relive the life of La Purísima and display the skills utilized at each mission. Mission life was self-sufficient; the residents baked their own bread, they grew their own fruits and vegetables and measured grain with a fanaga, the equivilent of 1.6 bushels. Water was transported through an elaborate system of aqueducts, pipes, reservoirs and filtration buildings. Rawhide braiding was also a common practice at the missions, as well as candle making and wool spinning.

From Inside the California Missions
© David A. Bolton

Quick Facts

  • 11th mission
  • Founded by Father Lasuen on 12/8/1787, feast day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary the Most Pure
  • Built in a linear fashion to avoid flooding problems and because mission leaders felt the docile Chumash did not need to be contained in the typical fortress-like quadrangle
  • Mission sits on 968 acres
  • Variety of plants and animals – horses, cows, & deer still roam
  • Rebuilt several times – first complex collapsed and was rebuilt with adobe in 1802, fell again in 1812. In the spring of 1813, the mission was rebuilt about three miles from its original location
  • After the revolt of 1824 at Mission Santa Inés, Indians took control of La Purísima for nearly 30 days
  • Indian revolt caused great damage, and it didn’t end until state guards were sent from the Santa Barbara Presidio
  • Every year, locals re-enact mission life during “Mission Days”
  • Description of mission life – food, aqueduct, rawhide braiding, candle making, wool spinning

Address
2295 Purisima Road
Lompoc, CA 93436
Tel: 805-733-3713

Landmark Status
National Historic Landmark
California Historic Landmark #340

Directions to the Mission
From US-101: Exit and proceed west on CA-246. Turn right on Purisima Road.

Hours of Operation
9am - 5pm daily; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

For tour information, please call 805-733-3713

Facilities
Visitor Center, phone 805-733-3713
School Tours, phone 805-735-2174