Preserving the Old Missions of California 
SANTA BARBARA 
One of the most fascinating of the missions 
is San Luis Rey, a day’s journey from San 
Diego. Situated in the midst of a magnifi¬ 
cent landscape, the walls of the quadrangle are 
in fair condition and the interior shows traces 
of the garden which once flourished there. 
This mission garden was one of the most 
beautiful to be found in the twenty-one 
buddings. Just before the 
American conquest com¬ 
pleted its ruin (for the 
rough frontiersmen who 
crossed the plains respected 
no missionary friars or civi¬ 
lized Indians) this mission 
harbored an industrious 
Indian population of several 
thousand. Later it was 
occupied by troops as a 
military post during the 
Mexican war, when it reach¬ 
ed such a state of demolition 
that an estimate of a million 
dollars was given as neces¬ 
sary for its restoration. 
As these figures were so 
enormous it was not undertaken and it stands 
a magnificent ruin sacred to the memory of 
those who wore habit and cord. 
To-day few of the ruins between San 
Francisco and San Diego which excite the 
curiosity of travelers retain their original 
character. Some of the structures are in 
use as churches and parish residences, others 
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 
177 
