Room 31's Study of the

Mission San Juan Bautista

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Mission San Juan Bautista was the 15th mission. In about 2 weeks after Father Lasuen founded Mission San Jose, the 14th mission, he blessed a site for San Juan Bautista Mission. Like every other mission, it got 50 gold pieces and 3 bells to start it. Mission San Juan Bautista's Indians were the Costanoans.

The Costanoans were from the northern coast region. The life style of the Costanoans was totally different before they came to the mission. They ate fish, crabs, lobster, sea weeds, sea turtles, and birds.

When they came to the mission they had to round up cattle, take care of the orchard, and they had to clean the mission. They got clean clothes and food in return. They ate corn at the mission. The Indians got to be baptized. When they were lucky and made it to the tribe they couldn't always return because they broke their religion. They came to the mission because they thought it was better. After a couple of years the Indian population went down because the Spanish brought diseases that they never had before. The padres tried to help the Indians but they were too late and the Indians died.

The Mexican government took over the missions in 1834 and the padres had to leave Mission San Juan Bautista. Later the mission was restored and today many tourists come to visit every year.