Convento Building (Mission San Fernando) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mission San Fernando Rey de Convento Building
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Postcard of the Convento Building, 1900
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd., Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California |
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| Built | 1808–1822 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002147 |
| Added to NRHP | October 27, 1988 |
The Convento Building is a very old and important building. It is famous for its many arches, called a portico or colonnade. This building was constructed between 1808 and 1822. It is the only original building left at the Mission San Fernando Rey de España. You can find it in the Mission Hills area of San Fernando Valley in California, United States.
The Convento Building was also the biggest adobe building in California. Adobe is a special kind of brick made from earth and straw. It was also the largest original building at any of the California missions.
About the Convento Building
The Convento is a very large, two-story building. It is about 243 feet (74 meters) long and 50 feet (15 meters) wide. Its walls are super thick, about four feet (1.2 meters) wide, and made of adobe. The building was put together in different steps between 1808 and 1822.
The long row of 20 arches at the front is called a portico or colonnade. This part is the most famous image of the Mission San Fernando. The Convento is still the largest adobe building in California. It is also the biggest original building among all the California missions. Inside, the Convento has a library with 1,760 old books. These books date back from the 1500s to the 1800s.
History of the Convento
During the time of the Spanish missions, the Convento was a home for missionaries. These were people who traveled between missions along the Camino Real. California's first bishop, Francisco García Diego y Moreno, lived here for many years.
In 1846, the Mexican government took control of the missions. They sold the properties. Pio Pico became the owner of Mission San Fernando. He then sold it to someone else in 1846.
Later, in 1847, an American military leader named John C. Fremont used the Convento as his base. In 1853, some railroad surveyors saw the building and said it looked "imposing." From 1857 to 1861, the Convento was a stop for the Butterfield Stage Line. This was a stagecoach service that carried mail and people between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
By 1883, the Mission was falling apart. But the Convento was still in pretty good shape. People described it as a "large structure" with a "broad portico" supported by brick pillars. Its roof was made of poles, wild cane, and burnt tiles. Spanish families lived there, and part of it was being set up as a Catholic church.
For many years in the late 1800s, the Convento was left to decay. But in 1896, a group called the Landmarks Club decided to restore it. They held a big celebration in 1897 for the Mission's 100th birthday. The Convento was still strong and had "withstood more successfully the ravages of time." Its tiled roof was mostly whole, and its heavy doors were still strong.
In 1963, the church started a big restoration project. They fixed the roof, made the building waterproof, and replaced old beams and tiles. During this work, they found that the old beams were tied with tough rawhide strips. This showed the amazing skills of the Shoshone Indians who built the landmark in the early 1800s.
In February 1971, a big earthquake hit the area. It was called the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The Mission's chapel was completely destroyed. A huge fireplace inside the Convento shook loose and cracked many walls. Even though the chapel couldn't be saved, the Convento was repaired in 1973. This made it the only original building left from the Mission. As part of the repairs, the Convento was also made stronger, replastered, and painted. Because it was the only original building remaining, the Convento was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This list recognizes important historical places in the United States.
See also
