Kenneth A. Larson - General Site
Photography Gallery - Mission San Fernando Rey de España

This general site is just for fun. Kenneth A. Larson has a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and Theme Parks using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design. Also experience in other areas of Design.

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Mission San Fernando Rey de España - Photography Gallery

All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003, 2004.

Select photographs of my many visits to the California Missions build by Spain and Mexico between 1769 and 1823.

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#17, San Fernando Rey de España. Founded September 8, 1797 by Father Fermin Lasuen. Los Angeles, near San Fernando.

More text and photos at Mission Trail Today.

Personal Observations Although San Fernando Mission is closest to my home, and I drive past it often, I have spent more time at other missions. I am sorry to say that it is not the most photogenic mission. Like most of the missions in the larger cities, it is lost amid the urban sprawl.

Mission Art & Photo-Art

History

Named for Saint Fernando, King of Spain, San Fernando Rey de España was the seventeenth mission built in Alto California. While intended to fill a gap between San Gabriel Arcángel and San Buenaventura, it is much closer to San Gabriel Arcángel. It is built in a quadrangle, similar to other missions, in which the church makes up one corner. Unlike at other missions, the convento stands apart of the quadrangle and is the largest adobe structure in California. Like many other missions, grapes and wine making were a major industry at San Fernando. In addition to 30,000 grapevines, the mission also had 21,000 head of livestock. Leather goods and tallow were major products produced at San Fernando Mission. Secularization was not kind to Mission San Fernando. The roof tiles were removed for use on other buildings leaving the adobe walls unprotected to melt back into the earth. A

nearby gold discovery brought hungry gold prospectors who dug up the floor of the church pursuing false rumors that gold was beneath the church. Mission San Fernando has survived many earthquakes, including 1812 when the church was severely damaged, and more recently 1971 and 1994. I personally experienced the last two. Mission San Fernando is now a functioning parish church and holds regular mass. While originally Mission San Gabriel was closest to modest the pueblo of Los Angeles, Mission San Fernando is now the only mission within the giant City of Los Angeles. A few hundred feet away is the Andres Pico Adobe, the second oldest home in Los Angeles, which began as a store house for Mission San Fernando. Address and Directions 15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd. Mission Hills, CA 93145-1109. Phone: 818-361-0186. Finding Mission San Fernando Rey de España from I-5 is easy. The mission is midway between two major freeways, I-405 or I-5, along San Fernando Mission Boulevard. Exit I-5 at San Fernando Missions Boulevard going west. If you are coming on the I-405 north, exit Rinaldi (which actually exits onto Sepulveda) and turn right onto Sepulveda and left onto San Fernando Mission Boulevard. If you are on the I-405 south, exit Rinaldi going east (left), turn right onto Sepulveda and left onto San Fernando Mission Boulevard.

The convento took thirteen years to construct and was completed in 1822. It is most noted for it's twenty-one Roman arches. There are numerous displays within it's four fot thick adobe walls, including the famous Madonna Room. 11-10-03.

The Main Gates. 11-10-03.

Mayordomo's House where the forman of the mission ranch lived. 11-10-03.

Grind wheel in forground with building, which is now the gift shop, beyond. 11-10-03.

Minor entrance to the Mayordomo's house. 10-16-99.

Door detail. 10-16-99.

Remnants of an old wall. 11-10-03

Remnants of an old wall. 11-10-03

Convento. 10-16-99.

Convento. 10-16-99.

Convento. 10-16-99.

Colonnade of the largest two-story adobe in California. 10-16-99.

Interior door. Opens onto the colonnade to the left. 9-1-01.

Interior space in the convento. 11-10-03.

Interior space in the convento. 11-10-03.

Interior space in the convento. 11-10-03.

The Madonna Room in the convento is quite popular with tourists to Mission San Fernando, although actually having little to do with the historical mission. 11-10-03.

Interior space in the convento. 11-10-03.

Wine cellar. 2-14-09

The convento is the largest two story adobe in the San Fernando Valley. the second floor is for storage as can be seen in this photo. 11-10-03

Another photo showing the second story of the convento. 11-10-03.

North side of the convento. 11-10-03.

The building at right now houses the archives. 11-10-03

At far right is the church. The building to the right contains exhibits of mission industry. 11-10-03.

At far right is the church. The building to the right contains exhibits of mission industry. 11-10-03.

Interior and alter of church. 11-10-03.

Tower just south of church. 11-10-03.

Court yard and fountian. Bull fights once were held in this open area. 11-10-03.

Courtyard looking toward church. 11-10-03.

Courtyard. 11-10-03.

South side of church. 11-10-03.

Courtyard from east end of church. 11-10-03.

Courtyard looking south. 9-1-01.

Courtyard looking north toward chapel. 9-1-01.

Colonnade of the convento. Just a fw feet to the left of this photo is a major street. 11-10-03.

San Fernando Mission is know for its peacocks.

Across the street from Mission San Fernando Rey de España, is the Memory Garden.

Fountain. 11-10-03.

Memory Garden. 11-10-03.

Memory Garden. 11-10-03.

Statue of Father Junipero Serra. 11-10-03.

San Fernando Mission Wells. Access to water was a deciding factor in locating many of the missions. A few miles north east of Mission San Fernando were cienegas, or swamp lands, with natural springs. This availability of water influenced the Franciscan Padres into locating Mission San Fernando Rey de Espaņa near these cienegas. The wells are still supplying water to the LA DWP. The wells are on DWP property and access is limited but they can be seen from the gate. The Mission Wells are located at Havana & Bleeker Streets. The wells were declared L.A. Historic Cultural Monument 50 on May 10, 1967. Photo Date: 1-17-04
Mission wells. Photo Date: 1-17-04

About a half mile north of Mission San Fernando is the remnant of the San Fernando Mission Dam. It is easily accessible beside Rinaldi, a major street in the north San Fernando Valley. See map above. The small site is landscaped and includes a marker. San Fernando Mission Dam is located at 14801 Rinaldi Street, Mission Hills.

San Fernando Mission Dam remnant. Photo Date: 1-17-04.

San Fernando Mission Dam remnant. Photo Date: 11-23-03.

This marker at the dam site says... Photo Date: 11-23-03.

Mission Dam Rubble masonry water storage dam built by San Fernando Mission Indians in 1808. Water flowed to the Mission via a tiles pipe. Marked by El Camino Real Parlor No. 324 Native Daughters of the Golden West. March 11, 1972

More text and photos at Mission Trail Today.

This page last updated 10-6-04

This site is a light hearted alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.

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