Lompoc's first Spanish mission was established by Father Lasuen in December 1787 following the founding of the Santa Barbara Presidio in 1782 by Spanish King Carlos III.

This large mission complex and its many Lompoc ranchos prospered, as shown above, until an earthquake in 1812 leveled it, killing many residents.

For over a 100 years, the facilities lay in ruin.

As Lompoc developed, the Southern Pacific Railroad and city literally built right over the Mission in 1923 and 1959.

As a result of the archaeological excavations of the Mission Vieja area, sponsored by the Lompoc Community Development Department, an outline of the mission quadrangle was identified -- relative to modern streets and housing on F and G streets.

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One has to wonder just what happened to the cemetery that was likely located on the right side of the church. In front of the complex is the water trough and the Lavaderia, still surviving today. On the far right, the "Army facility" is shown. Spanish soldiers were stationed at every mission to represent the King of Spain.

The gardens shown in the background were located on I street. The whole complex was served by a water spring and aqueduct emanating from Miguelito Canyon, just as the spring does today. The Chumash Indians, for which the mission was founded, lived both inside and outside of the mission and at many remote ranchos assigned to the mission.

A small part of this site at the end of South F Street is held by the City of Lompoc, where you can see the entrance to the church and the Lavaderia.

The rendering is based on a drawing from the final report of Mission Vieja de La Purisima, Feb. 1993, by Julia G. Costello, Ph.D., and published by the Lompoc Museum.