La Purisma Concepcin: The Enduring History of a California Mission

by Michael R. Hardwick

In two centuries, La Purísima Concepción went from a fledgling frontier mission to a renowned California State Historic Park. Once home to many Spanish soldiers, settlers and hundreds of Chumash Indians, La Purísima held the seat of the California Mission government under Father Mariano Payeras. It withstood catastrophic events, including widespread disease in early years and a great Southern California earthquake in 1812. Emerging from ruins for the last time in 1934, after restoration by the Civilian Conservation Corps, structures appear today as they did in the early nineteenth century. The uniquely restored California Mission complex operates as a state park in a pastoral setting. Author and archivist Michael R. Hardwick chronicles the story of La Purísima and the resilient people and culture that made a lasting influence.

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 2015

Reviews

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

The one padre who liked to lasso bears and the engineering genius in a wheelchair surprised me. I appreciated the extra context around the rebellion, and the use of interviews of first peoples accounts for later events.