La Purisima Mission State Historic Park

Founded in 1787, the La Purisima Mission land holdings once covered nearly 470 square miles. Bordered by the Santa Maria River in the North and the Gaviota coastline in the South, the land was home to the Chumash people and Spanish settlers. The mission was best known for its hides and blankets, and at its peak inhabitants herded as many as 24,000 cattle and sheep.

Today, history lives at La Purisima. The most extensively restored mission in the state, La Purisima hosts over 200,000 visitors each year. Plan your trip today for recreation and a chance to explore California’s heritage.

We are open nearly every day for self-guided tours, and frequently the park provides a re-creation of life here during the 1820’s. Look for these special events when the residents engage in weaving, pottery making, candle making, blacksmithing, livestock production, and leatherwork.

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