Spoiler alert! Mission San Jose is not in San Jose! It’s in the city of Fremont and set against the towering East Bay hills which provide a rural backdrop for this must-see Mission. The Mission church is an authentic replica of the 1809 church.
If you’ve just come from Mission Santa Clara or Mission San Francisco, you might be surprised to see this Mission’s façade. It is imposing but without ornamentation – just a window above the door and the bell tower openings.
The entire adobe church was rebuilt in 1985. The spacious nave has painted columns and balconies on the walls. Fun fact: note the water stains on the roof. They look real but they are actually painted on to give this church a more authentic feel.
The Mission Garden is outside the church and here you’ll find a fountain, benches, roses, olive trees and tiled paths. On the other side of the church is an impressive cemetery crowded with headstones big and small. Click the photos below to enlarge.
The 1868 earthquake on the Hayward Fault destroyed the adobe church but the convent and padres’ quarters were left standing and later updated. It is now a gift shop & museum and flags from Spain, Mexico and the U.S. fly outside.
The excellent museum has rooms dedicated to the Ohlone, the padre’s quarters and religious relics, the Mission’s musical legacy, restoration efforts and other mission artifacts.
This is a drawing of Mission San Jose as it might have looked in 1797 shortly after its founding.
Click the photos below to enlarge.
Alta California Missions 