Mission San Jose
Why it's listed
Only part of the original Mission San Jose survives today: a long, one-story building of sun-dried adobe brick made from native soil, dating from about 1810. It once formed part of the living quarters of a Franciscan mission in what is now the Mission San Jose District of Fremont. Founded on June 11, 1797, by Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, it was the fourteenth of California's twenty-one coastal missions and the only one founded in the East Bay. Its population reached 1,877 in 1831, and in the 1830s it was probably the most prosperous mission in California. The adobe church was destroyed by the 1868 earthquake and replaced by a wooden church. Preservation work began in 1916, a roof was added to protect the walls, and further restoration followed in 1950. The building now serves as a museum, with plans proposed to reconstruct the adobe church.
Significance in brief: The mission was founded in 1797 as the fourteenth of California's twenty-one coastal missions and the only one in the East Bay. It became one of the most populous and prosperous missions, especially in the 1830s. The surviving adobe building is a restored remnant of that complex.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000131, listed July 14, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Mission Blvd. at Washington Blvd., Fremont |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | July 14, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000131 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked excellent, unaltered and on its original site. The adobe building was restored in 1950 and is now a museum; a wooden church built after the 1868 earthquake stands on the site of the original adobe church. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.53341, -121.91974 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000131.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6878722
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.