California - Central Coast Area Attractions
The Central Coast area of California contains Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and the beauty of Big Sur. It is sometimes known as the "Middle Kingdom".
Gonzales, California
Gonzales is an agricultural town located in the Salinas Valley. The original town was planned in 1874 by Mariano and Alfredo Gonzales on land deeded from Mexico to their father, Teodoro Gonzales, in 1836. Cattle and grain raising dominated the area until the 1890's, dairy farming began upon the arrival of Swiss immigrants.
Moorpark - America's Teaching Zoo, California
This 5-acre zoo houses 150 animals, part of Moorpark College's Exotic Animal Training and Management Program.
Nipomo, California
Nipomo was originally a 38,000 acre private ranch. It is home to the Dana Adobe, built 1839 with the help of American Indians. Thousands of blue gum eucalyptus trees populate the mesa area.
Richmond - Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park is the site of four Richmond shipyards, with their combined 27 shipways they produced 747 ships, more than any other shipyard complex in the country during WWII. Richmond was home to 56 different war industries, more than any other city of its size in the United States. The city grew nearly overnight from 24,000 people to 100,000 people.
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
Richmond, CA 94804
United States
Richmond, CA 94804
United States
Phone 1 (510) 232-5050
Fax 1 (510) 232-5504
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sunrise | Sunrise | Sunrise | Sunrise | Sunrise | Sunrise | Sunrise |
| Close | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset |
San Miguel, California
San Miguel is located on Highway 101 north of San Luis Obispo. The town was built around Mission San Miguel, founded on July 25, 1797 and the construction of the present church began in 1816.
Mission San Miguel Arcangel
This mission, situated in the extreme northeast of San Luis Obispo County, over 37mi/60km north of the town of the same name, has - in contrast to most of the others - a church (the third one, and completed in 1821) which has withstood the rigors of time better, so that in 1901 and 1928 it had to be merely renovated, not rebuilt. As a result of secularization the mission lost its estates, which extended as far as the Pacific Ocean 30mi/50km away, and during the 1850 gold-rush it was a favorite place for fortune-seekers to stay.
Items of interest
The church, however, was not adversely affected; it remains intact and is one of the best-preserved examples of mission architecture. The interior is richly painted; Indians worked under the artist Estevan Munras from Monterey and succeeded in producing some interesting "trompe l'oeil effects" (French for "deceiving the eye"). Above a statue of its founder is an all-seeing Eye of God, supposed to exert a hypnotic effect upon believers. In the nearby museum you can see interesting items from the mission period.
Mission San Miguel was hard hit by an earthquake on December 22nd, 2003. It underwent restoration and reopened on December 22nd, 2006.
(Central Coast Area)
HistoryThis mission, situated in the extreme northeast of San Luis Obispo County, over 37mi/60km north of the town of the same name, has - in contrast to most of the others - a church (the third one, and completed in 1821) which has withstood the rigors of time better, so that in 1901 and 1928 it had to be merely renovated, not rebuilt. As a result of secularization the mission lost its estates, which extended as far as the Pacific Ocean 30mi/50km away, and during the 1850 gold-rush it was a favorite place for fortune-seekers to stay.
Items of interest
The church, however, was not adversely affected; it remains intact and is one of the best-preserved examples of mission architecture. The interior is richly painted; Indians worked under the artist Estevan Munras from Monterey and succeeded in producing some interesting "trompe l'oeil effects" (French for "deceiving the eye"). Above a statue of its founder is an all-seeing Eye of God, supposed to exert a hypnotic effect upon believers. In the nearby museum you can see interesting items from the mission period.
Mission San Miguel was hard hit by an earthquake on December 22nd, 2003. It underwent restoration and reopened on December 22nd, 2006.
Mission San Miguel Arcangel
Box 69
San Miguel, CA 93451-0069
United States
Box 69
San Miguel, CA 93451-0069
United States
Phone 1 (805) 467-3256
Fax 1 (805) 467-2141
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Facilities
Gift shop
San Miguel - Rios Caledonia Adobe Museum
The Rio Caledonia Adobe Museum in San Miguel was a hotel and stage stop in the late 1800s.
Santa Paula Union Oil Museum, California
Exhibits of the Santa Paula Union Oil Museum explore petroleum technology, science, and history in California. Interactive models, artifacts, photographs, and other historical memorabilia are displayed including an authentic 1890s drilling rig and a restored 1890's corporate headquarters.
Santa Paula Union Oil Museum
1001 East Main Street
Santa Paula, CA 93060-2809
United States
1001 East Main Street
Santa Paula, CA 93060-2809
United States
Phone 1 (805) 933-0076
Fax 1 (805) 933-0096
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
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