Page last updated: July 5, 2022
All glass plate photographs by Harold A. Taylor. Digital images copyright © 2022 by Pinyon Publishing. No reproduction without permission.
Missions Home North to South: Dolores Santa Cruz San Juan Bautista Monterey Carmel
San Antonio de Padua San Miguel San Luis Obispo Santa Ines Santa Barbara-Glass SB-Celluloid
San Buenaventura San Fernando Rey de Espana San Gabriel Arcangel San Juan Capistrano Miscellaneous
San Juan Capistrano Front (884, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Front (48, 5”x7”)
San Juan Capistrano Front (846, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Dome (880, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Dome (740, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Dome (702, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Inner Courtyard from Top of Wall (727, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Inner Courtyard from Top of Wall (881, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Looking into Courtyard (717, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Looking into a Corner of the Inner Courtyard (723, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Looking into Courtyard Between Adobe Walls (716, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano A Corner in the Courtyard (737, 8”x10”)
This once grand adobe structure, one of the last to be built in the chain of missions, took nine years to build, was used for six years, then in seconds was largely taken down by the earthquake of 1812, leaving us today with picturesque ruins. And the sad story of the death of the congregation kneeling inside while the walls shook down upon them; one of the saddest among the damage done to seven missions during the month of earthquakes during 1812.
The tragedy perhaps leading to the legendary spontaneous ringing of the four bells in the low campanario which has originally hung in the large church tower that fell in 1812. The largest bell is inscribed with the names of the padres at the mission. The second largest cast in 1796, and two more cast in 1804. These bells were run with ropes attached to the clappers.
Continuing the mystical aura of this grand ruins: cliff swallows arrive each spring, purportedly on St. Josephs’s Day. And white doves inhabit the place. The master-mason brought from Culiacán, Mexico, accomplished the elaborate stonework facings, carved doorways, arches, capitals, and keystones. The ornate Baroque gilt reredos altarpiece was brought from Barcelona in 1906, originally intended for the L.A. Cathedral. Significant restoration took place after Harold Taylor’s photographs and today the mission is actively maintained for worship and education.
The final photographs in this section come a novel illustrated by Taylor, For the Soul of Rafael by Marah Ellis Ryan (1906). Comparing photographs of the same locations, you can see changes in the vegetation which show different visits that Harold Taylor made to misson.
San Juan Capistrano A Corner in the Courtyard (705, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Portal to Inner Court (714, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano The Broken Arch (729a, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano The Broken Column (730, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano The Broken Arch (729b, 4.25”x6.5”)
San Juan Capistrano The Broken Column (847, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano The Front Patio (722a, 8”x10”)
(722b, 8”x10”)
(722c, 8”x10”)
(722d, 6.5”x8.5”)
(722e, 5”x7”)
San Juan Capistrano Arches in Front Patio (715a, 6.5”x8.5”)
(715b, 4.125”x6.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Corner of Front Patio (704, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Corner of Front Court (739, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Courtyard Corner (705a, 5”x7”; 705b, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Three Arches on One Pillar (712, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano The Five Arches (733, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Ivy Covered Arches (731, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Corridor (738, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Corridor (703, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Corridor (845, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Bells (707, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano The Big Bell (710, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Through the Mission Door (713, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Through the Open Mission Door (720a, 6.5”x8.5”)
(720b, 8x10”)
(720c, 8x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Interior of the Old Chapel Showing Choir Loft (719, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Interior with Musical Wheel (711, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Interior of Chapel (883, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Interior of Chapel (718, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano Corridor with Father Humilus (329, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Corridor with Father Humilus (749, 6.5”x8.5”)
San Juan Capistrano “Their hostess had returned” (52002, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "After the very gay supper" (52005, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "Because of one little white vampire" (52006, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "Because of one little white vampire" (52007, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "Going from Mass" (51224, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "Going from Mass" (1224, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "Each way he turned he met an Alter or a Priest" (52012, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "Each way he turned he met an Alter or a Priest" (52011, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "Adios, 4 People" (51228, 8”x10”)
51228 Close-ups
San Juan Capistrano "Adios, 4 People" (51228b, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "Adios, 4 People" (1228, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano "A Vaquero" (51229, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano In Mission Arch (262, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano “The Serenade” (51227, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano “The Serenade” (51226, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano “Here among the ruins consecrated” (52013, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano “Keith Boyton” (52014, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano Confessional "Things Known and Never Told" (51230, 8”x10”)
California Coast "There is no forgetting" (52008, 8”x10”)
California Coast "There is no forgetting" (52009, 8”x10”)
Woman and Horse, "The Aliso Tree" (52004, 8”x10”)
San Juan Capistrano The Broken Arch (724, 8”x10”)
Close-up of people in The Broken Arch above (724)
Close-up View through the Arches
Close-up of Musical Wheel
Close-up of copyright marking on plate #1224