Founding and Construction of Mission San Juan Bautista

Mission San Juan Bautista was founded June 24, 1797, by Franciscan missionary Fermín Lasuén (who also founded Mission Santa Clara and Mission San Francisco de Asís). Named for John the Baptist, patron saint of California. The physical construction was carried out by Indigenous peoples of the Costanoan and Yokut tribes, who were compelled to labor under the Spanish mission system.