La Purisima Mission State Park 5.0 (reviews)

It's time to explore history with La Purisima Mission State Park!  Here, you can go back to life in the 1820s, and see how those who lived here would have spent their days. 

During self-guided tours, you can see how the residents would have engaged in weaving, blacksmithing, pottery making, candle making, livestock production and more!

This fabulous historic site has restored original buildings, as well as nearly 2,000 acres of park land to explore. With over 25 miles of hiking trails, you will want to bring those walking shoes!

The best place to stop when you first arrive is the Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall. Here, you can look at the amazing exhibits that cover the history of La Purisima Mission, from the very days of it's founding to present day.

The site has a great cultural significance to California's heritage.  Founded in 1787, the La Purisima Mission land once covered nearly 470 sq miles - that's a lot of space!

Bordered by the Santa Maria River and the Gaviota coastline, 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.

See kids, you're learning already!

La Purisima Mission State Park is a fascinating day out for the family, and one where you will really appreciate the history of the state, and what makes it so special to this day!