GATE HOUSE GROUND BROKEN – June 27th, 2012
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA. – Mission San Juan Capistrano’s Gate House Preservation Project continues to move forward, and the birthplace of Orange County marked the progress with a “Ground Broken” event on a sunny Wednesday morning on Mission grounds.
The Ground Broken event is a way for us to show progress to the community on this historic project that is on schedule and on budget with the opening of the new entry slated for Swallows Day 2013 and the new museum store opening after July 1, 2013,” said Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, Executive Director of Mission San Juan Capistrano.
George O’Connell, president of the Mission Preservation Society Foundation, announced that the Mission has raised $2 million but needs another $400,000 to complete the project.
Those in attendance Wednesday included Reverend Monsignor Arthur A. Holquin and Board Members Connie Spenuzza, Madeline Swinden and William Cvengros. Representing the city of San Juan Capistrano were Mayor Larry Kramer, City Council member Laura Freese and City Manager Karen Brust, and from Rancho Mission Viejo was Gilbert Aguirre.
The Gate House Preservation Project will ultimately safely accommodate the operational use of the Gate House and remove the current gift shop out of the rich and historic 18th Century Sala Building.
The project will enhance and protect the most historic elements of the existing Gate House while improving access, safety, and staging of thousands of school children who queue on sidewalks that were just four feet wide before the project began. The project also will lengthen the hours of the downtown’s busy period and reinforce its identity by providing a museum store on the street-front after hours.
About Mission San Juan Capistrano:
Known as the “Jewel of the Missions,” Mission San Juan Capistrano is a historic landmark and museum that boasts of quality permanent exhibits featuring original artifacts as well as traveling and temporary exhibits on a wide variety of topics.
The site itself serves as a living outdoor museum with original buildings constructed by Native Americans in the 18th century including the Serra Chapel, Great Stone Church, and the original padres’ quarters of the South Wing.
The Mission was founded on November 1, 1776 by Padre Junipero Serra as the seventh in the chain of the twenty-one California missions established by Spain, and is Orange County’s only mission. Every year, over 50,000 students visit the Mission and engage in an inspirational learning experience via the Mission Matters programming, as part of their State required California history studies.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is owned by the Diocese of Orange and is supported by the Mission Preservation Foundation, which is comprised of business and community leaders committed to ensuring the long term preservation and viability of Orange County’s only Mission. The Mission receives no funding from either the Church or the State of California and charges admission funds as a means of providing public access.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Open Daily 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Good Friday afternoon. Admission is $9 adults; $8 seniors (60 years or over); $6 children (ages 4 to 11); and children ages 3 and under are admitted free. Free audio guide with senior and adult admission. For more information, call (949) 234-1300 or visit www.missionsjc.com.
