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Take a Break From The Beach Scene At Peaceful Mission Santa Cruz
130 Emmett StSanta Cruz, CA 95060- Phone: (831) 426-5686About
Connect with California’s Spanish history at an oft-overlooked location in this Northern California beach town. Visit a quieter side of beachside Santa Cruz at Mission Santa Cruz, known for its gardens and stunning views of the city below. Site of the 12th mission to be built in the chain of Franciscan outposts, Mission Santa Cruz saw more than its share of adversity—flooding in its original location, attack by Native Americans, looting by a neighboring town, and a series of earthquakes. Today, only one original building remains, a simple, one-story adobe, which once housed Yokut and Ohlone families. Inside, exhibits explain the mission from the perspective of the Native American residents. Adjacent to the adobe site is a half-size replica of the original chapel, where you can get a brochure with a self-guided tour. A garden atop the original mission burial ground was planted in honor of Native Americans.
