Mission San Fernando Rey de España, or San Fernando Rey, was founded on September 8, 1797 by Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, the seventeenth in the California mission chain. It was named for Saint Ferdinand, King of Spain, and is located on the former Encino Rancho in the Mission Hills community of northern Los Angeles, California.

In 1845, Governor Pio Pico declared the Mission buildings for sale and in 1846, made Mission San Fernando Rey de España his headquarters. The Mission was used for many things during the late 1800s; it was a station for the Butterfield Stage Lines ; it was used as storerooms for the Porter Land and Water Company ; and in 1896, the quadrangle was used as a hog farm.

San Fernando's church became a working church again in 1923 when the Oblate priests arrived. Many attempts were made to restore the old Mission from the early 1900s, but it was not until the Hearst Foundation gave a large gift of money in the 1940s, that the Mission was finally restored. In 1971, a large earthquake damaged the church, which had to completely rebuilt. The repairs were completed in 1974. Mission San Fernando Rey de España is a beautifully restored mission. It continues to be very well cared for and is still used as a parish church.

Historic designations

• National Register of Historic Places #NPS-88002147
• California Historic Landmark #157

See also

• California mission

External links

• Elevation & Site Layout sketches of the Mission proper
• Andres Pico Adobe