Summary
Mission Ventura was the ninth mission built in California, founded March 31, 1782, by Father Junipero Serra. The name Mission San Buenaventura is in honor of Saint Bonaventure.
Interesting Facts
- Mission San Buenaventura was the sixth and last mission personally dedicated by Father Serra.
- Mission San Buenaventura was never destroyed.
Timeline
- 1782 – Father Serra founds Mission San Buenaventura
- 1793 – Explorer George Vancouver visits
- 1816 – 1,328 Indian neophytes
- 1834 – Mission San Buenaventura secularized
- 1862 – Returned to Catholic Church
- 1857 – Church “modernized”
- 1957 – Church restored to original
Where Is It Located?
Mission San Buenaventura, 211 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA.
Mission San Buenaventura is located on Main Street in downtown Ventura, north of Los Angeles. From US 101 south, take the Ventura Avenue exit. Turn right on E. Main Street. From US 101 North, take the California exit. Turn right onto California Avenue, and then left onto E. Main Street.
Parking is available on Main Street in front of Mission San Buenaventura, or turn left onto Palm and left again into the parking lot area next door.
History: 1782 to Present Day
San Buenaventura Mission was founded on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782, by Father Junipero Serra, who was assisted by Father Pedro Benito Cambon. The service took place on the beach of the Santa Barbara Channel, in the same place Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo had claimed California for Spain in 1732.
San Buenaventura Mission was originally planned to be California’s third mission, located halfway between San Diego and Carmel. Father Serra couldn’t get military protection from Spanish Governor de Neve, and by the time it was built, San Buenaventura Mission was the ninth mission instead. Governor de Neve was following orders from the King of Spain, who believed it was easier to secure California by giving it to settlers than by building missions. Father Serra had a hard time convincing de Neve to let him establish more missions. Finally, they met and agreed to build two new ones, San Buenaventura Mission and Santa Barbara.
Early Years
Father Serra left Father Cambon in charge, and San Buenaventura Mission began to grow and flourish. The local Chumash Indians, who the Spanish referred to as Channel Indians, were intelligent, energetic, and willing to work for payment in beads or clothing. With their assistance, the first buildings at San Buenaventura Mission were constructed quickly.
The first church burned down in 1792, leading to the building of a new one that commenced in 1795 and was completed in 1809.
With the help of the Indigenous community, the Fathers constructed a seven-mile-long aqueduct to irrigate orchards and gardens so extensive that explorer George Vancouver, who visited in 1793, remarked they were the finest he had ever seen.
The Early 1800s
The missionaries faced challenges, being driven from their church twice in the early 1800s. In 1812, an earthquake and tidal wave forced everyone inland for about three months. In 1818, the French pirate Bouchard raided the coast, prompting the Fathers and Indians to evacuate to the hills for nearly a month. Fortunately, the pirate was intercepted at Santa Barbara and never reached the mission.
In 1819, the San Buenaventura Mission guard attempted to prevent a visiting group of Mojave Indians from mingling with the local Indians, which resulted in violence where the Mojaves and two soldiers lost their lives.
By 1816, San Buenaventura Mission was at its peak, housing 1,328 Indians.
Secularization
Rafael Gonzales, the first administrator after secularization, implemented the changes more gradually compared to elsewhere.
In 1845, he rented the Mission buildings to Don Jose Arnaz and Narciso Botello; however, later, Governor Pio Pico illegally sold the properties to Arnaz. Once California became a state, Bishop Joseph Alemany petitioned the United States government for the return of the Mission buildings, orchard, cemetery, and vineyard, leading to Abraham Lincoln’s actions in 1862 that granted the church’s requests.
Ventura began expanding significantly when the railroad arrived in 1887, leading to the Mission being surrounded by the burgeoning town. The buildings were never abandoned and remain standing.
The 20th Century
San Buenaventura Mission was restored in 1957 and currently serves as a parish church. Three Fathers are interred within the church: Father Vincente de Maria, Father Jose Senan, and Father Francisco Suner.
Layout, Floor Plan, Buildings, and Grounds
Mission San Buenaventura’s first building was destroyed by fire in 1794, and the second church’s construction was abandoned due to structural failure. By 1792, the present church and surrounding buildings were underway.
The current stone masonry church was half-finished by 1795, taking until 1809 to complete with a dedication on September 9, 1809. The mission’s walls are six and a half feet thick, and its main altar and reredos were imported from Mexico in 1809. The original hand-cut pine and oak ceiling beams, brought from the mountains and transported down the coast using oxen, still support the roof today.
In 1812, an earthquake damaged Mission San Buenaventura, causing the bell tower to collapse and rendering the buildings uninhabitable for several months.
Unlike many other missions that fell into disrepair after secularization, San Buenaventura was well-preserved, maintaining its original walls and floors.
Another earthquake in 1857 caused further damage, leading to the tile roof being replaced with shingles. Years later, a well-meaning priest, Father Cyprian Rubio, “modernized” the interior by covering the original floor and ceiling, removing the intricately carved pulpit, and replacing small windows with stained glass versions.
The Mission underwent restoration in 1956-57, where windows were reconstructed to their original dimensions and the original ceiling and flooring were revealed. In 1976, the roof was replaced with tiles. Today, five bells hang in the campanario: one made in 1956 and four older bells, two marked 1781, and one marked 1825. Notably, there are also wooden bells within the museum, the only known examples in California. The garden features a new fountain, distinct from the original one that had a sculptured bear’s head decoration.
The two Norfolk Island pines in the church garden are said to be over 100 years old, having been planted by a sailing captain who intended to cultivate wood for ship masts.
Cattle Brand
The photo above illustrates the cattle brand, derived from samples displayed at Mission San Francisco Solano and Mission San Antonio. This brand represents one of several mission brands which feature the letter “A” in varying styles, though its origin remains a mystery.
Interior
Main Altar
In the center stands Saint Bonaventure, the namesake of the mission. To the left is Mary, and to the right is Joseph holding the baby Jesus.
Side Altar
This altar is positioned on the wall to the left of the main altar. The centerpiece is the Shrine of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, painted in 1747 by Francisco Cabrero, with St. Gertrude on the left and St. Isidore on the right.
Choir Loft
Bell Tower
As per the museum’s records, Mission San Buenaventura was the only mission that originally had wooden bells. The bells currently in the tower are made of metal.
Wooden Bell
Grinding Wheel
This wheel was utilized for grinding grain into flour.
Chumash Indian Baskets Picture
