Copyright © 2010 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
San Juan Bautista Mission
Outer Courtyard
Twilight
Nikon D90
Nikkor 15-35 f2.8 AF-S

I drove out to Mission San Juan Bautista to photograph the Mission and grounds before meeting up with friends from my Night Photography group. The town is very rural with roosters, hens, and chicks roaming freely through it, and there are many original building still in use.
I plan to go back and photograph more of the town.

My entire gallery of this day is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmzajac2004/sets/72157624145463865/

In June, 1803, the cornerstone was laid for the present church. With three naves or aisles, it became the widest of all the mission churches. It was dedicated on June 23, 1812. Padre Esteban Tapis is buried in the sanctuary of the church. He was, at one time, Presidente of the Missions and he is founder of the Mission Santa Ines. When he retired from office he came to San Juan Bautista where his musical talents brought fame and a new name to San Juan, “THE MISSION OF MUSIC.” Two of his handwritten choir books can be seen in the Museum.

Interior completion of the church continued through 1817 when the floor was tiled and the main altar and reredos (which holds the six statues) were completed by Thomas Doak, an American sailor who jumped ship in Monterey. He painted the reredos in exchange for room and board.
The Old Mission San Juan Bautista has had an unbroken succession of pastors since its founding on June 24,1797.