Address
43300 Mission Boulevard
Fremont, CA 94539
United States
San José
General Information
Founded:
June 11, 1797 - The 14th California Mission
Also Called:
The Mission of the Most Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph
Current Status:
This is an active Roman Catholic Church that is part of St. Joseph's Parish.
Summary:
San José was founded on June 11, 1797. This successful, prosperous mission was destroyed in an earthquake in 1869. The Mission San Jose church was carefully restored between 1982-1985 and is considered one of the most authentic mission structures in California. There is a gift shop and museum in the former padre’s quarters.
Directions
The mission is located at 43300 Mission Boulevard (at the intersection with Washington Boulevard) in Fremont.
The mission, despite its name, is about twenty (20) miles north of the city center of San José. There was a pueblo (free-standing town) named San José de Guadalupe, which is sometimes confused with the mission.
Website(s)
Phone(s)
510-657-1797 - Mission Gift Shop
Fees, Hours, Tours and Church Services
Please contact the mission directly by telephone or by visiting the Public Tours page of the mission website for the most current tour information.
Visit the Mass Schedule page for the most current mass schedules and services.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is best to check for current information.
Weddings and Other Special Services
The Old Mission San José is a lovely and popular place to get married. If you are interested in holding your wedding at Mission San Jose, please contact St. Joseph Parish/Old Mission San Jose either by telephone at 510-656-2364 or visiting the Wedding and Baptisms section of the website.
Special Events
The mission holds several special events throughout the year. Check out the Event Calendar on the mission website for dates and events.
Concerts (primarily Chamber music) are held five or six times a year.
Unique Attractions
- San José has an authentic and well-restored mission church (rebuilt in 1982). Its truncated tower holds four bells.
- The church is a popular location for Weddings and Baptisms.
- The restored padre's quarters now contain the gift shop and museum.
- The museum has an interesting collection of maps, artifacts, and displays.
Other Historic Attractions
- With an early start, it is possible to visit and explore Missions San José, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz in one full day.
Tips for Visitors
- This mission was extensively researched before its very authentic restoration. Photograph it from across the street and on the side, where the giant buttresses that support the church walls are prominently visible.
- There is a well-sited status of Junípero Serra on the mission ground. This is one of the statues sculpted by Dale Smith and placed all over California by the William H. Hannon Foundation.
Year Secularized
1834
Year Returned to Catholic Church
1858
Patron Saint (Named For)
Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Prominent Missionary Leaders
- Founding Father President - Fr. Fermin Francisco de Lasuén
- Founding Missionaries - Fr. Isidro Barcenilla and Fr. Agustin Merino
- Prominent Missionary Leaders - Fr. Buenaventura and Fr. Narciso Durán were assigned to San José in 1806. These talented energetic missionaries worked together with the Indians for 27 years to build one of the most prosperous missions in California.
Indians Joining Mission
San José was founded in the land of the Costanoan people. Ohlone, one of the most prominent Coastanoan tribes is often used to refer to the natives of the San José and San Francisco de Asis missions. San José also recruited Indians from other groups including Miwok, Patwin, andNorthern Valley Yokuts.
In about 1806 Georg Heinrich von Landsdorf, an artist attached to a Russian Scientific Expedition, sketched an Ohlone Ceremonial Dance at San José Mission.
Mission Site
In Fremont, 15 miles northeast of the pueblo (and current city) of San José.
Mission Layout
The layout was more of a rectangle than the traditional quadrangle.
Water Source
Alameda Creek was the mission's main source of water.
Population
The highest mission population was 1,886 in 1831.
Livestock
San José was the agricultural and livestock powerhouse among the northern missions. The initial cattle were provided by Santa Clara. In 1832, the last year for which we have records, the mission had a sizable herd of cattle (12,000), sheep (11,000), and horses (1,100), placing its livestock herd in the upper 25% of all the missions.
Agricultural Output
Mission San José, which was well-managed and located in an area with rich soil, had the second highest agricultural production of the 21 missions with approximately 289,000 bushels of grain and produce. Its production of barley, corn, beans, and vegetables often exceeded the amount grown by any other mission during these years.
San José had extensive olive and fruit tree orchards. There was also a large vineyard near the mission quadrangle. San José rapidly became known for the quality of its olive oil, fruit, and produce.
Mission Church
The San José Mission was destroyed in an earthquake in 1868. An old daguerreotype taken in c. 1853 shows how the mission looked before its destruction.
An authentic restoration of the mission church was completed between 1982-1985.
Mission Bells
The bell tower is quite truncated but contains four original bells.
Mission Art and Artifacts
The restored padre's wing is now a museum.
Significant Events
Estanislao, a San José neophyte, led a large scale Indian uprising in 1828-1829. Several military expeditions were required to put down the revolt. Stanislaus County is named after Estanislao.
Interesting Facts
- The nearby pueblo de San José de Guadalupe was established in 1777 as an agricultural settlement for provisioning the presidio garrisons at San Carlos de Monterey and San Francisco.
- A devastating epidemic of smallpox and measles took a terrible toll on the neophytes (over 150 died) between 1805 and 1806.
- The mission was renowned for its orchestra and choir, developed and led by Fr. Narciso Durán.
- Mexican Franciscans from the Colegio de Zacatecas replaced the Spanish Franciscans at Mission San José in 1833.
For Additional Information
- Holmes, P. (1977). Two Centuries at Mission San Jose, 1797-1997.
- Oral History Associates. (1989). City of Fremont, The First Thirty Years: History Of Growth.
- Margaret, A. (1999). Mission San José. (Power Kids Press series on the Missions of California).
Historical Gallery
The fourteenth California mission of San José was founded on June 11, 1797 in the land of the Ohlone people. It became the agricultural and livestock powerhouse of the northern missions and had the second largest agricultural production of all 21 missions. Several drawings were made in the 19th century of events at or near the mission in its peak years, and all of the artists who completed a mission series captured the look and feel of this successful mission.
Unfortunately, the simple but powerful church was destroyed in an earthquake in 1868. It would be over a century before San José (the church not the full complex) was restored between 1982-1985. The restored church is authentic and well-worth visiting.
Contemporary Gallery
The Contemporary Image Gallery contains more recent photographs taken by several different photographers from around the Church gardens and the Church interior.
Architectural Gallery
San José was destroyed in an earthquake in 1868, and not included in the Historic American Buildings Survey sites. We do have a good layout of the mission complex.
