Hidden among the rolling hills and picturesque valleys of Californias coastal mountain range is the quiet mission town of San Juan Bautista. Forged by the San Andreas Fault, the same stunning environment that attracted Spanish missionaries to establish Mission San Juan Bautista in 1797 would invite multitudes of visitors and settlers during the first years of Californias statehood. Bypassed by the railroad in the 1870s, the town saw its population dwindle and seemed likely to fade unnoticed into history. In the 1930s, the structures around the ancient mission plaza narrowly avoided decay and demolition. The community, with the plaza at its heart, embarked upon a slow but steady restoration and revival of its former splendor. Today both mission and town thrive as important cultural and spiritual centers.

Discusses the mission at San Juan Bautista from its founding in 1797 to the present day, including the reasons for Spanish colonization in California and the effects of colonization on the Mutsun (a tribe of the Costanoan) Indians.

Isaac Mylar (b. 1847) and his family came overland to California in 1852. For three years his father prospected for gold at Shaw's Flat before settling in the town around the old mission of San Juan Bautista in San Benito County. Early days at the mission San Juan Bautista (1929) begins with the history of the mission and memories of Mylar's boyhood and schooling in the town and his growing acquanitance with the mission church and the priests and brothers who administered it. He recalls life in the town in the 1850s when San Juan helped supply the nearby mines, and in later decades: political and business leaders, schools and churches, streets and houses, bandits and other criminals, hunting, hotels and stage lines.

Winner, Presidio La Bahia Award, Sons of the Republic of Texas, 1978 In their efforts to assert dominion over vast reaches of the (now U.S.) Southwest in the seventeenth century, the Spanish built a series of far-flung missions and presidios at strategic locations. One of the most important of these was San Juan Bautista del Río Grande, located at the present-day site of Guerrero in Coahuila, Mexico. Despite its significance as the main entry point into Spanish Texas during the colonial period, San Juan Bautista was generally forgotten until the first publication of this book in 1968. Weddle's narrative is a fascinating chronicle of the many religious, military, colonial, and commerical expeditions that passed through San Juan and a valuable addition to knowledge of the Spanish borderlands. It won the Texas Institute of Letters Amon G. Carter Award for Best Southwest History in 1969.

Mission San Juan Bautista is the second book in a series of twenty. The book is a craft & history project for anyone interested in California missions. Suitable for all ages (nine & up). Pattern pieces are provided & easy-to-follow written instructions showing step-by-step procedures. A variety of decorating ideas are given. Wonderful rainy day activity book that keeps children interested & entertained. Anyone who enjoys working with their hands will find building a mission an enjoyable way to pass the time & learn some history. The history was written for children & is easy-to-read & understand. This book is for the general public & for educators who want a hands-on activity in the classroom. Part of public education curriculum. The book retails for $14.95. For orders write the distribution center, Buzzard Press International, 409 Reynolds Circle, San Jose, CA 95112-115 or call 209-723-6723. FAX: 209-723-6238.

Although Anza is best known for his travels to California as a young man, this book, the first comprehensive biography of Anza, shows his greater historical importance as a soldier and administrator in the history of North America.

This full-color guide includes vibrant photos and easy-to-use maps to help with trip planning. Northern California residents Elizabeth Linhart Veneman and Christopher Arns cover the best that Northern California has to offer, from day hikes in awe-inspiring Yosemite Valley to rest and relaxation at the spas and vineyards of Wine Country. To help travelers plan their trip, Veneman and Arns also offer a number of unique itinerary ideas, such as as "Best Day Trips," "Best Road Trips," and "Best Outdoor Adventures." With expert advice on finding the tastiest food in the Bay Area, exploring the charming Monterey and Carmel, and getting to Gold Country ghost towns, Moon Northern California gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.