Mission Santa Clara de Asis (originally La Mision Santa Clara de Thamien) was founded eighth of all California-based missions, on January 12, 1777, and while it's been ruined and rebuilt six times, it has never been abandoned. Several natural disasters have forced the relocation of the mission several times. The first settlement and mission grounds was damaged by several natural events, and was relocated to higher ground. It was this higher ground-minded site that became Santa Clara de Asis.

Similar to other missions, Santa Clara de Asis was secularized by the Mexican government in 1833, and its land and livestock sold. Unlike many other missions, however, many of the buildings continued to be used as a parish church. That said, the church did struggle, and in 1851 the property was offered to a group of Italian Jesuits with the condition they establish a college for the growing Roman Catholic population in the area. This offer was the foundation for what would become Santa Clara University -- though it's had a few name changes in its 160+ year history.

Founded: January 12, 1777 (#8) by Father (now Saint) Junipero Serra, in present-day Santa Clara, California, at 500 El Camino Real (and on the Santa Clara University campus).

Visit: No admission, though no real visitors center, either. At least, when I was there; the museum had a sign posted that it would open in a few months (fall 2018 or so).

Learn more: Mission's Web Site * Wikipedia: Mission Santa Clara de Asis * Photos I Took * Tour Map (PDF will open in a new window; copyright Mission Santa Clara/Santa Clara University)