Places, Earth
San Jaun Bautista State Historic Park

State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help.

Throughout the country, important state parks, historic sites, homes, buildings, and museums are in trouble. Because of the recent rise in gasoline prices and the general world-wide financial collapse, state parks, historic sites, and museums are in danger of closing. Some are being forced to sell off artifacts and property. Most operate on a thin margin and will not weather these hard times without your help.

Places Earth recently encountered closed state parks in Arizona and California is threatening to close all state parks. The story is similar throughout the country.

Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please find a worthy local or distant historic site or museum that is in financial danger and donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep these parks open. It will be your loss.

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San Jaun Bautista State Historic Park

San Jaun Bautista State Historic Park includes Spanish, Mexican, and later American constructions including the Plaza Hotel, Castro / Breen Adobe, Plaza Stable with old wagons, Blacksmith Shop, Settler's Cabin, Jail, and Plaza Hall. Mission San Juan Bautista is not part of the Historic Park but adjacent and the two make a complete history experience. The town of San Juan Bautista is quaint with antique shops and boutiques. It is a few miles off Highway 101 about ten miles south of Gilroy.

put map here
Map

Hotel and Mission San Juan Bautista. Photo Date: 7-26-03.

Hotel. Photo date: 12-25-03.

The Plaza Hotel began as a one-story adobe housing for five to six soldados (soldiers) attached to the Mission. Angelo Zanetta, and Italian inigrant, bought the building in 1856 and added a second story made of wood. The building opened as a hotel in 1859 and was famous for it's cuisine. It is unusual for its 2-story outhouse. The admissions desk and gift shop along with exhibites are in the building today.

Plaza Hotel. Photo date: 12-25-03.

Hotel from Mission San Juan Bautista. Photo date: 12-25-03.

Hotel. Photo date: 5-29-04.

Interior of one of the 19th Century buildings. Photo Date: 7-26-03.


The famous two-story outhouse. Photo Date: 7-26-03.


The famous two-story outhouse. Photo Date: 7-26-03.

The Castro / Breen Adobe was completed in 1841 as the home and office of General Jose M. Castro. The Breen family bought the house in 1848 and ran the United States Hotel for several years. Numerous exhibits are now within the building.

The Castro / Breen Adobe.

The Castro / Breen Adobe.

Castro House

Plaza Hall and livery stable. Photo Date: 7-26-03.

Plaza Hall and livery stable. Photo date: 12-25-03.

Vicky House, used by staff.

Livery stable, Castro House, Hotel. Photo date: 12-25-03.

Plaza Hall and Plaza Stable from mission. Photo date: 12-25-03.

The Zanetta House, also called Plaza Hall, originally housed single women and gilrs from the mission. Angelo Zanetta and John Comfort purchased the property in 1870 and rebuilt the structure to be the county courthouse, but Hollister became the county seat and the building became the Zanetta home. The second floor was used for public events. Exhibits are now within the building.

Photo date: 5-29-04.

The Plaza Stable was built by John Comfort in the early 1870s. The stables were built to service the frequent stagecoaches between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and mines to the east and west. It also provided services to hotel guests. The stables now house a collection of vintage wagons and carriages.

Photo date: 5-29-04.

Water wagon by Studebaker. Photo Date: 7-26-03.

Beer wagon. Photo Date: 7-26-03.

The Blacksmith shop, like in any town of the day, was an important industry. There were always repairs to be made and horse to be shod. A good blacksmith was never out of work.

Blacksmith shop. Photo Date: 7-26-03.

This reproduction Wash House was an important asset to the Plaza Hotel which offered "Hot, Cold and Shower Baths, from pure spring water."

The San Juan Jail was used from 1870 to 1941. It was relocated to the park.

The Settler's Cabin was built in 1843 and is typical of its type. It was relocated to the park.

San Benito County Main Page

This page last updated: Wednesday, 09-Sep-2009 00:08:08 CDT

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Places, Earth San Jaun Bautista State Historic Park

State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help.

San Jaun Bautista State Historic Park

This page last updated: Wednesday, 09-Sep-2009 00:08:08 CDT

Places, Earth
San Jaun Bautista State Historic Park