Moments in Time: What’s in Store at the Mission
San Juan Capistrano, CA – In 1919, Father St. John O’Sullivan opened up a ticket booth and gift shop at the front of the Mission to help raise money for a restoration project. Now, 94 years later, the historic Mission has come full circle to realize Fr. O’Sullivan’s dream.
The new gatehouse opened in March and incorporates the ticket booth of Fr. O’Sullivan’s time. Sam U’Ren, the Mission’s preservation manager, supervised the “seismic retrofit, re-plaster and stabilization of the building’s infrastructure from floor to ceiling.” The building was brought back to its 1919 roots, and arts and crafts furnishings are in keeping with that era.
The completion of Fr. O’Sullivan’s dream happens on July 13 when the new Mission Store opens to the public. By moving the gift shop to the front of the Mission, it will be easier for visitors to access the store, either before or after touring this historic site. It will also make shopping more accessible to people who just want to purchase Mission and religious memorabilia.
