Mission San Juan Capistrano, CA

Mission San Juan Capistrano, CA Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Mission San Juan Capistrano, CA, Museum, 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA.
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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.

Our Artifact of the Month program continues in September with a look at several books about Mission San Juan Capistrano,...
09/05/2026

Our Artifact of the Month program continues in September with a look at several books about Mission San Juan Capistrano, published in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

For more than two centuries, the California missions have captured the imagination of writers and historians. The books featured in this month’s exhibit offer a glimpse into how Mission San Juan Capistrano was documented and understood over time and have become invaluable resources for historians and Mission staff.

Featured books:

📖 “Chinigchinich” (1846) — based on information collected by Father Geronimo Boscana (1775-1831) during his years assigned to Mission San Juan Capistrano.

📖 “San Juan Capistrano” (1922) — part of a series of books about the California missions by Father Zephyrin Englehardt (1851-1934), known as “The Father of Mission History.”

📖 “Little Chapters About San Juan Capistrano” (1912) and “Capistrano Nights” (1930) — written by Father St. John O’Sullivan (1874-1933), who served as Mission Pastor here from 1910 until his death in 1933. Known as "The Great Restorer," O'Sullivan devoted those years to rescuing the Mission from near ruin and restoring its historic buildings and grounds. He is buried in the Mission's old cemetery, just east of Serra Chapel, beside the monument he commissioned to honor the Mission's original builders, the Juaneño people.

🖼️ September’s Artifact: Historic Book Collection
📅 September 4 - October 4
📍 Mission Treasures Exhibit, West Wing

Visit the exhibit this month and stop by the Mission Store to discover more books about Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Today, we tolled the bells in memory of Juan Forster, a devoted supporter and dear friend of Mission San Juan Capistrano...
09/04/2026

Today, we tolled the bells in memory of Juan Forster, a devoted supporter and dear friend of Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Juan’s connection to the Mission was deeply personal. A descendant of Don Juan Forster, a rancher who purchased the Mission in 1845, he came to embrace not only his family’s history here, but the Mission itself. For many years, Juan and his wife, Carolyn, generously supported preservation and education programs, helping ensure this landmark could be enjoyed by generations to come.

“I just grew affection for it,” Juan said. “Once I really understood the relationship, and that I had this pretty special relationship to early California and a lot of the growth in Southern California, it became very special to me.”

Juan believed in sharing that connection. He brought his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the Mission. Through his support of programs like our Adopt-A-Class scholarship, he also helped give thousands of students the opportunity to visit and learn from this place. His legacy is one of connection — to history, to family, and to the Mission community. We are forever grateful for his friendship, his generosity, and the care he showed for a place that meant so much to him.

As we tolled the historic Mission bells, we remember Juan and honor the legacy he leaves at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Vaya Con Dios, Juan 🕊️

Plan a visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano this September!Explore our newest exhibits, enjoy our free self-guided audio...
09/02/2026

Plan a visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano this September!

Explore our newest exhibits, enjoy our free self-guided audio tour, and take a stroll through our beautiful gardens. As we get closer to our 250th anniversary on November 1, there’s plenty of history to discover and new ways to experience the Mission.

SPECIAL HOURS:

September 7 (Labor Day): The Mission grounds and Mission Store are open from 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
September 16: The Mission grounds and Mission Store will close at 4:00 p.m.
September 18: Mission San Juan Capistrano will be CLOSED for the annual Romance of the Mission benefit gala.
September 19: The Mission grounds will open at 10:00 a.m.

For the latest operating hours and event details, please visit our website: https://www.missionsjc.com/

“Everybody’s feelin’ warm and bright, it’s such a fine and natural sight. Everybody’s dancin’ in the moonlight.” — Toplo...
08/30/2026

“Everybody’s feelin’ warm and bright, it’s such a fine and natural sight. Everybody’s dancin’ in the moonlight.” — Toploader, “Dancing in the Moonlight” (2000)

📸 Photo credit:

⭐️ Staff Spotlight ⭐️This summer, we celebrate three incredible members of the Mission San Juan Capistrano team — Liz, D...
08/27/2026

⭐️ Staff Spotlight ⭐️

This summer, we celebrate three incredible members of the Mission San Juan Capistrano team — Liz, Daniel, and Corie — as they reach important milestones in their years of service to the Mission. We are so grateful for their commitment, passion, and the countless ways they contribute to the Mission.

Each day, our staff work behind the scenes and on the front line to preserve, share, and celebrate the Mission’s history. Through their expertise and dedication, they help bring this historic and sacred landmark to life.

⭐ Liz Acevedo ~ 15 years

“Liz has been part of the Mission for 15 years, and her warmth and genuine care have made a lasting impression on so many of us,” said Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams. “Through her years in the Mission Store and front-line operations, Liz has built meaningful relationships with our members and guests and has become a familiar, welcoming face at the Mission. Her connection here is especially meaningful because her father, Francisco, was also part of the Mission family. We are grateful for all she has given over these 15 years.”

⭐ Daniel Ceballos ~ 10 years

“Daniel has been a steady and dependable part of the Mission for 10 years, and we are so pleased to celebrate this milestone with him,” said Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams. “Daniel is someone we can count on. He takes pride in his work, cares for the Mission’s facilities with consistency and attention, and brings a reliable presence to our team. Congratulations, Daniel, and thank you for a decade of service!”

⭐ Corie Hoeppner ~ 5 years

“Five years with Corie is a wonderful milestone to celebrate,” said Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams. “As Operations Director, Corie leads our front-line teams and Mission Store with a calm, thoughtful, and steady hand. She brings professionalism and genuine care to all she does, and we are deeply grateful for the dedication she has shown over these five years and for the leader she continues to be.”

Mission San Juan Capistrano is home to the oldest metalworking structures in California. Father Arthur J. Hutchinson, ...
08/23/2026

Mission San Juan Capistrano is home to the oldest metalworking structures in California. Father Arthur J. Hutchinson, Mission Pastor from 1933-1951, was responsible for overseeing the excavation of the Mission’s West Wing. This photograph, circa 1935-1936, shows Father Hutchinson with an archaeological team excavating what has become known as our Industrial Site.

Many hands, one Mission 💛Mission San Juan Capistrano is alive and well with its volunteers!As we get ready for back-to-s...
08/22/2026

Many hands, one Mission 💛

Mission San Juan Capistrano is alive and well with its volunteers!

As we get ready for back-to-school and our annual Romance of the Mission benefit gala, there are many hands at work throughout the Mission — from spreading mulch and caring for the grounds to preparing for our biggest fundraising event of the year. Every effort helps make our work possible.

And all of this work has a greater purpose: supporting the children we serve, preserving this historic place, and ensuring the Mission continues to thrive for generations to come.

It truly takes many hands to make light work, and we’re grateful for every volunteer who gives their time, energy, and heart to the Mission. Together, we’re keeping history alive and creating a brighter future.

08/21/2026

We were delighted to welcome the team from Farmers & Merchants Bank to Mission San Juan Capistrano for our sixth annual summer Mulch Day, helping prepare our historic grounds for the 2026 Romance of the Mission benefit gala.

Each year, our garden beds are refreshed ahead of the annual fundraising event, ensuring the Mission looks its very best for our guests. Working side by side with Mission staff, our dedicated Gardening Angel volunteers, and the team from O'Connell Landscape Maintenance, these outstanding community volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help beautify the historic grounds.

We are grateful to Farmers & Merchants Bank for their commitment to preserving and supporting this treasured landmark through hands-on community service. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Mulch Day a success! 💚

For 250 years, Mission San Juan Capistrano has been a place where history, faith, and community come together. This holi...
08/20/2026

For 250 years, Mission San Juan Capistrano has been a place where history, faith, and community come together. This holiday season, experience its story in an entirely new way.

Debuting during Capistrano Lights, "The Story of the Mission: In Sound and Light" is an all-new immersive nighttime experience where light, music, and storytelling transform the Ruins of the Great Stone Church into a living canvas. As darkness falls, the Mission's remarkable history will unfold across the historic stone walls in a breathtaking new presentation created especially for the Mission's 250th anniversary.

Behind the scenes, test projections are currently underway at the Mission as our team works to test color, brightness, and saturation on the historic ruins of the Great Stone Church. What you’re seeing here during this test phase is part of the process of bringing the final installation to life.

Included with Capistrano Lights admission, this new seasonal experience will become part of the nightly holiday programming from December 18-30 (select days). Capistrano Lights tickets are on sale now. Mission Members receive highly discounted rates. Purchase tickets today: https://www.missionsjc.com/capistrano-lights/

Stay tuned as we share more behind-the-scenes previews of this unforgettable addition to Mission San Juan Capistrano.

“Many years have passed since those summer days, among the fields of barley. See the children run as the sun goes down, ...
08/16/2026

“Many years have passed since those summer days, among the fields of barley. See the children run as the sun goes down, among the fields of gold.” Sting, “Fields of Gold” (1993)

📸 Photo credit:

Address

26801 Old Mission Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA
92675

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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