La Purisma Mission

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 for recreation and a chance to explore California's heritage. In addition to the restored original buildings, the nearly 2,000 acre park is home to 25 miles of hiking trails, a modern Visitor Center and livestock. Visitors to this mission may catch a glimpse of the spirits of the Chumash Indians and Spanish soldiers who died during the 1820s Chumash uprising. The mission has been featured on TV’s Ghost Adventures.