mission san antonio and the valley of the oaks
Go back in time and relive the history of Mission San Antonio de Padua! Learn about the Native Americans and the Spanish missionaries, and how they worked together to build this once prosperous mission. Founded in 1771, Mission San Antonio’s population grew to 1296 neophytes in the early 1800s, and was self-sufficient in terms of food and many other products. San Antonio boasts many firsts in California’s history, including the first engineered water system, and was the first to manufacture and use tiles for roofing. The book also explains why the Mission went into decline during the Mexican period, and how it was later restored to its present condition. Mission San Antonio is now the most remote of the California Missions, located in the pristine Valley of the Oaks, and is among the most authentic as well.
Mission San Antonio de Padua as drawn by Edward Vischer 1873
About the Author:
Dominic Gregorio is a retired environmental scientist and college instructor. Until moving to Idaho in 2021, he was an active member of the Mission San Antonio parish, where he was also a museum docent and tour guide. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit Friends of Historic San Antonio Mission, currently serving as its president.