San Juan Bautista State Historic Park — Attraction in San Juan Bautista

San Juan Bautista Plaza is a National Historic Landmark and a California State Historic Park.

San Juan Bautista, founded in 1797, is the most striking architectural example in the United States of a 19th century village built on the traditional Spanish-Mexican Colonial plaza plan.

Grouped around the original plaza, which was first used as a parade ground by the Spanish soldiers guarding the mission, are five historic structures: Plaza Hall, Plaza Stable, Castro House, Plaza Hotel and San Juan Mission Church and Convent.

When we visited the plaza in 2011, a crew was setting up a mobile theater to screen Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo.

As you recall, near the end of the movie, Scottie and Judy (Madeleine) visited a mission at some distance from San Francisco. Dreadful things happened in the bell tower. The mission they visited was Mission San Juan Bautista, but there is no bell tower here.

There once was a bell tower, but it was demolished after a fire. Hitchcock added a post-production bell tower at the Paramount studio in Los Angeles using scale models and matte paintings. The interior staircase shots were filmed on...

San jaun bautista is a wonderful Historic little Town I visited 10 days ago mainly because of "Alfred Hitchcocks" film Vertigo, I stumbled upon a Spanish/ American Festival with Street foods and many other goods, there was a band playing such a wonderful atmosphere, the people were so happy and welcoming. I spoke with Linda in her little Store "Vintage Curosity" she was very interesting to talk to and informed me where in town I could sleep in my car as I was touring the States on the cheap. Next morning after a piecefull night I went for breakfast at the little dinner with red & white chequered floor the lady was great, wonderful Coffee & tasty toast and marmalade, next I visited "Windmill Market" this was the best little Supermarket I stopped at whilst in the States for 3 weeks highly recommend. I was sad to leave many folk said come back and see us again, fantastic slice of old traditional America i...

In a compact space, this museum covers a lot of early California history - from the late 1700s as the capital of Mexican California through to about 1900. Stage coaches, wars, the gold rush, even the Donner Party played a role. You'll learn about individuals with amazing life stories!

The setting is peaceful, with a pretty view and opportunities to walk nearby. I'm sadly docking a star for the obvious lack of funding to properly maintain some of the old buildings (especially the pink Zanetta house, rotting quietly). Outside of the main museum in the old hotel, signage is minimal.

But for a mere $3 entry fee, it's well worth a visit. And it's less than an hour south...