Mission La Purísima Concepción is a Christian religious center that was established by Spanish Roman Catholic priests in California. Its full name is Mission La Purísima Concepción de María Santísima (Mission of the Immaculate Conception of Most Holy Mary). The Franciscan missionary Fermín Lasuén founded the mission on Dec. 8, 1787, near what is now Lompoc, California. Missionaries baptized thousands of local Chumash Indians into the Roman Catholic faith at the mission. The Indians helped clear the land and construct the buildings. An earthquake destroyed the mission’s original adobe (sun-dried brick) and tile structures in 1812. The mission was rebuilt, but after an Indian uprising in 1824, it was neglected and eventually abandoned.
In 1833 and 1834, the Mexican government seized and redistributed properties that belonged to all the missions. This action brought an end to the active involvement of missions in California.
In the 1930’s, Mission La Purísima Concepción was restored to appear as it had in 1820. The mission and its extensive grounds are now part of a California historic park. Many of the original buildings are fully restored and furnished, including the church, priests’ residence, and blacksmith shop. The park also includes an original aqueduct, gardens, and a large corral with burros, cattle, goats, horses, and sheep.
