San Gabriel Travel Guide

 malianrob Says:  The water cistern looks more like a well and it has been filled along time ago. One of the fathers filled it up in order to "prevent accidents".It is the original and it is fifteen feet deep, with both sides and the bottom made of stones and mortar. 

 malianrob Says:  At one time the San Gabriel Mission supplied soap and candles to most of the other missions. The four large cisterns or boilers had edges that had a lining of sheet iron which was eight to ten inches thick. 

 malianrob Says:  This is a rebuilt kitchen and is a replica used in early mission days and in Spain. All the foundations here are original. 

 malianrob Says:  The Court of the Missions is an area of the missions where you can find a model of all 21 missions in the order that they were built.( by year). They were made by Claretian clergy. 

 malianrob Says:  The 99 ton top sail schopner was built here in the Mission.Metal was cut off the anchor to make tools and other metal items. The Cannon can also be found here. It was found after a flood in 1914 in a nearby river. 

 malianrob Says:  In the Peace Garden, area of the Mission you will find a hand made tile picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Theres also a bench surrounded by beautiful flowers to meditate, think or to pray. The Peace Garden is very peacful and very beautiful. 

 malianrob Says:  This was the main source of water in the Mission. The water was pipedfrom here with crude firedclay pipes to the laundry, kitchen and other areas. 

 malianrob Says:  The statue of Father Junipero Serra was erected for the 150th anniversary of the Missions Founding. The grapevines in this area were planted in 1860.The baked tiles, building foundations, and bases of pillars are originals. The tiles were started in 1803 and soon they... 

 malianrob Says:  The foundations, floor, and vats are the originals. In this room they made wine and olive oil. At one time San Gabriel Mission was the largest winery in California. 

 malianrob Says:  The museum was built in 1812 of adobe brick with a tiles roof. Originally it wasnt a museum it was a series of weaving rooms, granary, carpenter shops and sleeping quarters for the mission fathers.In the museum you can see important artifacts like a rosewood organ brought... 

 malianrob Says:  As you go into the church and toward the front you will see a door and room to the right. This is the Baptistry. It is a small room with an original domed ceiling, floor and walls. Inside are thr original hand hammered copper baptismal font and silver baptismal shell that... 

 malianrob Says:  "Outstanding is the Crucifix" is a memorial to the 6,000 plus Indians that are buried in this mission. Rededicated in 1939, the cemetery is now also the final restinf place for the Claretian Priests and brothers who have worked here. 

 malianrob Says:  This is the oldest Cemetery in Los Angeles County. The walls surrounding this area were built in 1940 but the foundations are original.In 1778, the first Indian was buried here. The Indians who lived and worked in the mission became to be known as the Gabrielinos. 

 malianrob Says:  The San Gabriel Mission Church was built of cut stone, brick and mortar, it is also the oldest structure of its kind.The Main Altar was made in Mexico City and taken to the mission in 1790. The wooden polychrome statues were hand carved in Spain.There was an earthquake in... 

 malianrob Says:  The San Gabriel Mission was founded in 1771. The designer of the mission was Father Antonio Cruzado. He was born and raised in Cordova Spain and therefore you can see the Moorish influence in this fortress-like appearance of the church.The walls are more than 4 feet thick,...