Mission San Fernando Rey De España History - presented by Bob Harrigan

Thursday, March 23rd at 7:00 p.m. - at New Life Church of the Nazarene

c. 1812 - Large group of people standing inside the adobe chapel adjacent to Mission San Fernando Rey de España after the 1812 earthquake.

A short walk from the Andres Pico Adobe is the Mission San Fernando Rey de España. Founded on September 8, 1797, Mission San Fernando became a popular stopping-off place for those traveling between other missions on El Camino Real. The iconic Convento with its beautiful arches served as a guesthouse for visitors and was completed in 1822.

c. 1883 - View of the Convento building, also known as the Long Building

The mission is probably the oldest building in the San Fernando Valley, but what do we really know about it? Our March speaker, Bob Harrigan, is one of our two new SFVHS Board members. He has given talks on the history of several missions including San Fernando, San Diego, San Luis Rey, San Juan Capistrano, and San Gabriel. He is also a retired history teacher. We really appreciate that he has agreed to share his enthusiasm for history with us at our March Speaker Meeting and in service to our Society.

c. 1920 - Aerial view of the Mission San Fernando Rey De España

c. 1920 - Exterior view of the Mission San Fernando Rey De España

c. 1927 - Men renovating the Mission. Adobe brick makers are at the foreground.