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California missions
Today you can
stop and view many of the 21 missions. Some
charge a few while others request donations,
several are in a constant state of repair. Much
research has gone into the original construction
of the 21 California missions and the replicas
or refurbished buildings provide a unique flavor
of the era in which they were built.. While
traveling along California, be sure to stop and
visit these gems. Oftentimes the grounds
are lovely, providing a shady picnic table to
eat a lunch or a vista overlooking some
beautiful field or lush valley making up today's
California. See: California
Missions
News of
Note: Boxer Press
Office
Wednesday, July 27,
2005
Washington, DC -
U.S. Senator
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today announced that
she obtained $300,000 to begin restoration
of one of California's Missions. The funds
are in the Interior Appropriations bill.
"This is
just a first step in our effort to restore
all of California's 21 Missions," Boxer
said.
The funds
for this project will go toward stabilizing
and restoring the San Miguel Mission, which
was nearly toppled by the Dec. 22, 2003,
earthquake in nearby Paso Robles. County
inspectors closed the building indefinitely
as a result of damage incurred by the
earthquake and related safety concerns. The
San Miguel Mission is in dire straits since
the earthquake..
Knox
Mellon, executive director for the
California Missions Foundation said, "This
funding is appropriate and well deserved. My
primary thanks goes to Senator Boxer whose
absolute commitment and unrelenting pursuit
of this funding for the preservation of
these historical landmarks was essential."
California’s 21 Missions are the most
visited historic attractions in the state,
drawing over 5.5 million tourists a year.
They account for a sizeable contribution to
the state economy, and are part of the
education of California students.
The House
and Senate now vote on the Conference Report
for the Interior Appropriation bill before
the legislation goes to the President to be
signed into law.
On Tuesday,
November 30th 2004, HR 1446, the California
Mission Preservation Act, finally became a
reality when President Bush signed it into
law. We would like to applaud Senator
Barbara Boxer and Representative Sam Farr
for championing this bill in Congress, and
congratulate all of the legislators who
co-sponsored it and supported it.
This Bill will
provide $10 million dollars over five years
to the California Missions Foundation for
projects related to the physical
preservation of the twenty-one California
Missions. This includes important projects
like structural rehabilitation and
stabilization and conservation of mission
art and artifacts.
Please note,
however, that these funds require a 1:1
match of additional money that the
California Missions Foundation must raise in
order to be eligible. We need your help now
more than ever to raise the matching funds.
Our goal is to raise an additional $2.5
million every year in order to keep up with
the Federal timeline.
The twenty-one
California Missions are among our most
historically valuable NATIONAL treasures.
They are well-known landmarks in California
as the progenitors of many of our coastal
cities and influencing land-use in the state
to this day. (think Highway 101, Pueblo de
Los Angeles) However, the missions'
significance to national history has not
been stressed enough. Their role as
progenitors of Spanish Colonial expansion
throughout the American west reminds us that
the resettlement of the American continent
over two hundred years ago did not just
include British colonists on the east coast.
Furthermore, the missions of the southwest
including Alta and Baja California, Arizona,
New Mexico, and Texas figured heavily in the
history of Native Americans for good or ill,
and must be preserved as a reminder of our
complex past.
We at the California Missions Foundation are
elated to see that our Federal Government
recognizes the need to preserve the
California Missions for the benefit of
present and future generations of American
citizens.
Their
paintings, statues and artifacts are dirty.
Their thick adobe walls are deteriorating.
Cemeteries and ancient burial grounds are
overgrown. Altars and confessionals are
fragile. Tile and plaster show deep cracks.
Plumbing and electrical systems need
upgrading. Gardens and orchards have
languished. Museums lack security systems.
Old stone gristmills, ovens and wine presses
need repair.
The 21 missions that shaped California's
history, transportation routes and culture
have fallen on hard times.
Of all the institutions that define
California's heritage none has the historic
significance and emotional impact of the
chain of Spanish missions that stretch from
San Diego to Sonoma. The missions are an
important part of the state's cultural
fabric and must be preserved as priceless
historic monuments.
But time, natural deterioration and under
funded neglect have taken a heavy toll on
the missions. Some are crumbling and are at
risk. Most need preservation and seismic
work to restore their antique beauty and
bring them up to modern safety standards.
Without immediate repairs, centuries-old
buildings and artifacts could be lost to a
major earthquake or flood.
Now, only a multimillion-dollar investment
will bolster the missions and help preserve
them for generations to come.
The California Missions Foundation, a
non-sectarian, nonprofit organization of
civic-minded citizens dedicated to the
preservation of California's historic
missions is leading a statewide
campaign---the first major appeal in nearly
a century---to raise $50 million to repair
the missions and preserve their precious
artworks and artifacts.
$39 million is needed to fund structural
repairs, seismic work and deferred
maintenance at all 21 missions and the
asistencia (sub-mission) San Antonio de Pala.
$5.8 million
will fund the restoration and conservation
of all Spanish colonial and mission-era
paintings, statuary, sculptures, furniture,
manuscripts, textiles and other
irreplaceable artifacts.
$5.2 million is required for overdue
visitor-related improvements including ADA
restrooms, upgrades of historical displays
and expanded history education programs for
schoolchildren.
The usual problems related to such endeavors
are compounded---and made even more
costly---by the recognized need to respect
the historical integrity of these fragile
structures.
Heritage tourism is on the rise and more and
more Americans are turning their vacations
into historical adventures. The missions are
a popular California tourist destination,
attracting an estimated 5.3 million visitors
last year including some 745,000 school
children. And they have become synonymous
with the state's fourth grade curriculum:
Students famously build mission models and
write research reports as part of California
history lessons.
Like most people you probably think the
state or federal government supports the
California missions. That's false. The fact
is that 19 of the 21 California missions are
not funded by any governmental agency. Most
rely on charitable donations to keep their
doors open.
Founded in 1998 the California Missions
Foundation is a California charitable
corporation exempt from state franchise and
income tax and organized and operated
exclusively for charitable purposes under
Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code. The Foundation accepts gifts
of cash, real estate, stocks, insurance,
art, and any other assets that have no
unusual liability. All contributions are tax
deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer
Board of Directors, which establishes the
policies to be followed in carrying out the
purposes and objectives of the foundation
and have general charge of the business
affairs and activities of the foundation.
Help preserve the history and heritage of
our California missions. Take make a
donation to this extremely important portion
of the California History, don't hesitate to
investigate the esteemed organization and
its board of volunteers who work tirelessly
to save the California Missions.
California
Missions Foundation
4129 Main Street, Suite
207
Riverside, California 92501
email
info@missionsofcalifornia.org
tel (951)
369-0440
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