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Ruins of The Great Stone Church at Mission San Juan Capistrano, the 7th of 21 California Missions founded by Father Junipero Serra. Renowned Mexican architect and stonemason Isidoro Aguílar designed the church and supervised the Ahachamai (Juaneno) Indians who built it. Laid out in the shape of a cross, it had a dome with six vaults and a campanile (bell tower) 37 meters high. Construction of the Great Stone Church began in 1797, and reportedly required the participation of the entire Ahachamai labor force. Finished in 1806, the church was the largest and most beautiful church on the West Coast of California, and earned the Mission the nickname The Jewel of the Missions. The Great Stone Church was destroyed in an earthquake which also took the lives of 40 natives, including two young boys who were ringing the bells, in 1812. Restoration work began in 1987 to prevent further damage to the beautiful ruins. Mission San Juan Capistrano is a registered Historic Landmark and designated as a National Historic Treasure.
Ruins of The Great Stone Church at Mission San Juan Capistrano, the 7th of 21 California Missions founded by Father Junipero Serra. Renowned Mexican architect and stonemason Isidoro Aguílar designed the church and supervised the Ahachamai (Juaneno) Indians who built it. Laid out in the shape of a cross, it had a dome with six vaults and a campanile (bell tower) 37 meters high. Construction of the Great Stone Church began in 1797, and reportedly required the participation of the entire Ahachamai labor force. Finished in 1806, the church was the largest and most beautiful church on the West Coast of California, and earned the Mission the nickname The Jewel of the Missions. The Great Stone Church was destroyed in an earthquake which also took the lives of 40 natives, including two young boys who were ringing the bells, in 1812. Restoration work began in 1987 to prevent further damage to the beautiful ruins. Mission San Juan Capistrano is a registered Historic Landmark and designated as a National Historic Treasure.
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Keywords: serra window damage church building structure travel christianity architecture ruins door doorway stone worship collapse mission landmark history treasure restoration religion earthquake historical religious damaged tourism mission san juan capistrano california mission jewel of the missions great stone church
All images on this site are Copyright @2005-2008 Lori Carey.
All rights reserved. Copying, reproducing or distributing in any manner without
prior written consent of the photographer is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved. Copying, reproducing or distributing in any manner without
prior written consent of the photographer is strictly prohibited.
I use a calibrated monitor with a gamma of 2.2. This means that on my monitor
I can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below.
To see my images as they are intended, you should at least be able to see
the difference between X,Y and Z, and ideally between A, B & C. If necessary,
adjust the brightness and contrast on your monitor as needed.
I can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below.
To see my images as they are intended, you should at least be able to see
the difference between X,Y and Z, and ideally between A, B & C. If necessary,
adjust the brightness and contrast on your monitor as needed.
