Mission San Juan Bautista

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Mission Church | Castro Breen Adobe | Plaza Hotel | Plaza Hall

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(Click the pictures to see a larger version.)Mission Buildings
Mission Church Mission Church
Notice the distinctive shape of the mission church. Though the 21 California missions were built in the same style, each church is unique.
Mission Wing Mission Wing
A small museum and gift shop are in this old wing of the mission building. Be sure to look for the hand organ which so amazed a band of angry Native Americans that they joined the mission instead of attacking.
Mission Stairs Inside the Church
The mission church is beautifully painted with earth-toned paints in a faux marble pattern. Look for the footprints of the animals who walked across the tiles while they were drying overnight in the courtyard. Since they didn't want to waste the tiles, they used them anyway and you will find animal prints in the strangest places. There is even a footprint halfway up this stair rail.

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Mission Church | Castro Breen Adobe | Plaza Hotel | Plaza Hall

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(Click the pictures to see a larger version.)Castro-Breen Adobe
Castro Bedroom Bedroom
This bedroom in the Castro-Breen Adobe house has a portrait of General Castro on the wall.
Bedroom Bedroom
Another bedroom upstairs in the Castro-Breen Adobe. On the walls of one of these bedrooms is my favorite object - a wreath which I like because the material it is made from is so weird.
Bedroom Bedroom
This bedroom has a child-sized bed and chair and tiny button shoes.
Office Upstairs Office
The upstairs office with two spittoons and a large press.
Dining Room Dining Room
The dining room has very old chairs.
Castro's Office Castro's Office
General Castro's office is on the ground floor at the far end of the building. His rug is the whole hide of a cow.
Hornito Hornito
In the courtyard behind the Castro-Breen Adobe is this hornito (beehive) oven. The sign will tell you how they managed to build a fire and bake the bread in the same place inside the oven.

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Mission Church | Castro Breen Adobe | Plaza Hotel | Plaza Hall

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(Click the pictures to see a larger version.)Plaza Hotel
Plaza Hotel Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel is next to the Castro-Breen adobe.
Barroom Barroom
A bugle was sounded when the stage approached the Hotel to warn the men playing pool in the barroom on horseback to make way for the arriving guests.

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Mission Church | Castro Breen Adobe | Plaza Hotel | Plaza Hall

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(Click the pictures to see a larger version.)Plaza Hall
Zanetta Hall Plaza Hall
Originally a dormitory for the unmarried Native American women at the mission, Zanetta remodeled the building and made it the town hall.
Parlor Parlor
Daylight floods the parlor through the numerous windows. On the wall you can see another of my favorite strange wreaths.
San Juan Eagle San Juan Eagle
See if you can figure out what the San Juan Eagle carried!

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Mission Church | Castro Breen Adobe | Plaza Hotel | Plaza Hall

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Ms. Surber’s Page This page was launched May 1, 1999.

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