Old Mission San Jose
Old Mission San Jose
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
California Historical Landmark No. 334. Mission San Jose was founded on June 11, 1797 by Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen. This was the 14th of twenty-one Spanish missions established in Alta California. A tour through Old Mission San Jose’s historic facilities includes the Mission Museum, the Church, the historic Cemetery, and the Garden. In the Museum, an 18-minute video depicts Spanish exploration and the 1797 founding of the mission as well as day-to-day living within the mission. See Ohlone Indian artifacts, religious objects from the Franciscan period, and items from the Mission and Rancho eras. The Church is a reconstruction of the 1830s mission adobe church, built with the materials and using construction methods of that time. It also contains the rare Rosales Opus 14 Spanish Organ. The cemetery holds the graves of many prominent Spanish and American settlers, and the rose garden includes a fountain and plantings representing the original mission period.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
95 reviews
Excellent
43
Very good
37
Average
12
Poor
3
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0
Karen S
San Francisco, CA5 contributions
Mar 2022
We had a lovely time visiting this mission as a homeschool field trip with a group of students. We participated in the full day tour, which consisted of a guided tour of the church, cemetery, and grounds; a break that allows time for lunch, a scavenger hunt in the small museum, and a chance to view the film that plays on continuous reel about the mission. After lunch, another docent led us in Ohlone games and led us on a nature walk of the adjacent grounds to enjoy and identify various plants that are native to the area and may have been used by some of the historical inhabitants. My two kids had a blast and loved this experience. I highly recommend it! (There's also a half day tour, which would be nice too if you are short on time or have kids with a shorter attention span.)
Written March 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peipay H
39 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
It was very nice. The workers were very friendly and helpful. I enjoy looking at all the old artifacts. We arrive 30 mins before closing. However the workers did offer that tour for me. However I opted out since I didn’t want to feel rush and not have enough time looking around the gift shop. They had many different coloring books to teach them about church.
Written April 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen C
Fremont, CA83 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
Whenever friends from outside the Bay Area visit us we take them here for a bit of California history. The museum gives a nice overview of the California missions, their history and that of the native Indians who were swept into the mission system. And the reconstructed mission church is magnificent. Masses are still held here and I’ve seen many wedding parties out front taking the obligatory photos. Lastly, if you’re into old historic cemeteries, the mission cemetery is worth a visit. Many or most of the local founding fathers and mothers from the Mexican period of California are buried here.
This is one of Fremont’s gems.
This is one of Fremont’s gems.
Written November 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr. Tim
Marana, AZ5,104 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
The 18th of the 21 California Missions I visited on my Motorcycle trip was Old Mission San Jose in Fremont. The Mission was founded on June 11, 1797 as the 14th Spanish Mission. Of the 18 Missions I have visited thus far this was one of my favorites. The museum is very complete with Indian artifacts, as well as, period dress and displays about the Ranchers in the area. The Chapel is beautiful with one of the most ornate altars with lots of silver and gold. The Cemetery has some very interesting headstones and markers. I highly recommend visiting this mission!
Written September 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kris V
Fremont, CA5 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
The displays and exhibits are very interesting and informative and give a good overview of what life in a Spanish mission would have been like. My one reservation is that the museum's displays assume that mission life was an improvement over their historical lifestyle for the indigenous populations; that improvement is not a clearcut fact and in fact might be open to dispute.
Written January 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph S
walnut creek, United States6 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
Be wary that Google maps gives the wrong directions. The Mission is actually on Old Mission Boulevard
Written March 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ransom007
Anaheim, CA1,119 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
There are a few spaces of free street parking in front of the mission.There is a nominal fee (I paid $5) which is paid in the gift shop.The main building has the museum along with the gift shop. Across the courtyard is the church. As with all of the California missions I have visited (7 so far), the church is magnificent inside. The courtyard is not very large. If you are interested in California history, especially the Spanish period, this is a great place to spend a couple of hours.
Written December 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave G
Bicester, UK161 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
This was a visit for which I had no expectations or preconceptions. What I found was a museum tracing the early history of the location from initiation by Hispanic monks with displays of artefacts, historical documents and explanatory text. It was comprehensive in the treatment of the subject, all housed in a relatively early building, with a quality gift shop and the chapel to visit. Totally immersive for someone who isn't an avid history buff.
Written June 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LynS
Orange County, CA57 contributions
Sep 2017
First time visiting Mission San Jose and it was an incredible experience. The church is a sight to see, and I highly recommend a visit to anyone within the area. Spiritually uplifting and humbling.
Written May 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Milpitas_traveller
Milpitas, CA203 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
If you collect missions, like we do, you have to visit this one. If you're looking for an average mission, maybe slightly above average, this one will do.
Written February 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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