Named for Saint John the Baptist, San Juan Bautista is the largest of the mission churches - laying claim to three aisles inside instead othe usual one.

The mission was secularlized (used for non-church purposes) in 1835, but the mission buildings and 55 acres were restored to the Roman Catholic church in 1859, and the church itself was reconsecrated as a Roman Catholic church. San Juan Bautista lays claim to the only original Spanish Plaza in California in 1859.

Founded: June 24, 1797 (#15) by Padre Fermin Francisco de Laseun, in present-day San Juan Bautista, California at 406 Second Street.

Visit: Admission ($3 adults, $2 children; as of July 2018); open daily 9:30am-4:30pm, except New Years, Thanksgiving and Christmas; church hours and services may vary (contact the mission or review its web site for current information)

Learn more: Mission's Web Site * Wikipedia: Mission san Juan Bautista * Photos I Took * Tour Map (PDF will open in a new window; copyright Old Mission San Juan Bautista)