San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano , city (1990 pop. 26,183), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1961. San Juan Capistrano has some manufactures, including aircraft parts, medical apparatus, and boats, but the economy is based chiefly on tourism. Junípero Serra founded a mission there in 1776 and named it after St. John of Capistrano, a Crusader. The mission church, completed in 1806, was ruined by an earthquake in 1812, but the chapel is still in daily use. Renovation of existing mission buildings to protect them from earthquakes was undertaken in the 1990s. It is said that swallows come to the ruins of the church every Mar. 19, the feast day of St. Joseph, and depart on Oct. 23, the death date of St. John of Capistrano. An annual fiesta celebrates the arrival of the swallows.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"San Juan Capistrano." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"San Juan Capistrano." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-SnJnCap.html

"San Juan Capistrano." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-SnJnCap.html

Learn more about citation styles

San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano, California/USA Founded as one of the chain of Franciscan missions in 1776 and named after St John of Capistrano (1386–1456), an Italian Franciscan preacher.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "San Juan Capistrano." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "San Juan Capistrano." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-SanJuanCapistrano.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "San Juan Capistrano." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-SanJuanCapistrano.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Miracle of San Juan Capistrano; Legend has it that the swallows always come...
Newspaper article from: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN); 2/22/2004
Oral histories with the Acjachemem of San Juan Capistrano.
Magazine article from: Journal of the Southwest; 3/22/2005
Visit San Juan Capistrano around March 19 if you want to see swallows.(Going...
Newspaper article from: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL); 1/18/1998

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of San Juan Capistrano