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Mission State Park

52 Reviews

#25 of 62 things to do in Santa Cruz

Nature & Parks, Sights & Landmarks, More

144 School St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-3726

Review Highlights

“Nice small replica mission”

The 16th of the 21 California Missions I visited on my Motorcycle trip was Mission Santa Cruz aka... read more

Reviewed 12 September 2018

timdI3110WX

Marana, Arizona

via mobile

“Don't overlook the State Park when visiting the Mission”

The Mission Church replica is owned by the Church. It was built in 1931 - the original Mission... read more

Reviewed 27 March 2018

Donald L

Cotati

Read all 52 reviews

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Traveller Overview

4.0 52 reviews

Excellent25%
Very good47%
Average23%
Poor5%
Terrible0%

Travellers talk about

“holy cross”(4 reviews)

“original building”(4 reviews)

“california history”(4 reviews)

About

The park houses a replica of the mission founded in 1791.

Contact

144 School St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-3726

Website

+1 831-425-5849

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Most Helpful Positive Review

Hermes_NL

The Hague, The Netherlands

1870862

Reviewed 20 July 2015 via mobile

Active church plus mission replica

The current church is not the original mission which was destroyed by earthquakes. It us still in active use. There is a replica of the original mission which serves as visitor centre and chapel. There is plenty parking around the church.

3 Thank Hermes_NL

Most Helpful Critical Review

ElizabethO_10

Fresno, California

2817

Reviewed 22 January 2014

Mission Visit

We're trying to see all the missions before our daughter is in 4th grade. This one is very small, but a nice visit when in Santa Cruz. You should know the adobe building is open more often than the actual church. We couldn't go inside...More

6 Thank ElizabethO_10

1 - 10 of 51 reviews

_leeheathorn

Santa Cruz, California

432

Reviewed 1 week ago

a history lesson

The Mission is a historical lesson in how the church serviced the early California residents. It is well preserved, small and furnished as in the appropriate time. The grounds are also well kept and a good place to walk or meditate.

Thank _leeheathorn

LisaandRod93013

San Ramon, California

320105

Reviewed 21 September 2018

Nice Mission!

My husband and I visited Mission Santa Cruz on a recent visit to Santa Cruz, CA. This is the smallest of the missions we've seen. It's beautiful inside and out... But was a quick visit that definitely takes less than an hour.

Thank LisaandRod93013

timdI3110WX

Marana, Arizona

782492

Reviewed 12 September 2018 via mobile

Nice small replica mission

The 16th of the 21 California Missions I visited on my Motorcycle trip was Mission Santa Cruz aka The Mission of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It was founded August 28th, 1791 as the 12th Spanish Mission. The original mission is all ruins and...More

Thank timdI3110WX

Marta E

El Paso, Texas

419163

Reviewed 17 July 2018

The park rangers Bella and Julie were so nice and even gave me..

some chard from the garden behind the visitor/gift center when I told them I absolutely love greens and make myself a green smoothie when I am home! IT is small but still a part of California history. Told by Julie that a different family occupied...More

Thank Marta E

Janjust16

314113

Reviewed 16 July 2018 via mobile

Hidden treasure

Hidden treasure- don’t mistake it with the church ⛪ It’s located at the end of the street. Very small but lots of history to absorb. The sheriff that’s watches over is very nice & welcoming. have a small veggie garden chard, kale - and she...More

Thank Janjust16

Baidra M

243

Reviewed 9 July 2018

Nice Mission for a quick visit.

The mission is small as most of it was destroyed over the years and other areas were developed as the town grew over the centuries. The mission has a nice museum area and the old chapel is small & quiet. The museum is a nice...More

Thank Baidra M

Donald L

Cotati

4713

Reviewed 27 March 2018

Don't overlook the State Park when visiting the Mission

The Mission Church replica is owned by the Church. It was built in 1931 - the original Mission church was destroyed in the 1800s by an earthquake. A block away is the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. It contains the only remaining original Mission...More

Thank Donald L

JeriLG

Santa Cruz, California

687251

Reviewed 15 January 2018

Replica but still Interesting

Holy Cross dominates Santa Cruz landscape. It is the first thing you see entering on HIghway 17 and is visible from multiple angels through out town. The mission park is adjacent and quite interesting. You get a feel for what it was like at the...More

1 Thank JeriLG

Woodpecker48

Walnut Creek, California

30979

Reviewed 24 November 2017

Small but nice

This is a small mission in a nice area in Santa Cruz. Free parking was easy to find right next to the mission. Another great California mission that I have been visiting as a photography project. Unfortunately the mission and gift shop were closed when...More

Thank Woodpecker48

Amy H

Palm Springs, California

4512

Reviewed 1 September 2017 via mobile

Interesting history

The gift shop is a half-scale replica of the original mission. Around the corner to the right is the State Park with the historical displays of what mission life was like for early Californian people. It is a small exhibit, but was just right for...More

Thank Amy H

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