Fort Hunter Liggett
- Mission San Antonio De Padua Day Trip
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Fort Hunter Liggett
is located about 25 miles southwest of King City, CA. It is accessible
from Highway 101 in King City or Highway 1 from the south. It
is surrounded by national forests, mountains and valleys, Salinas
to the north and San Luis Obispo County to the south. This terrain
and location made the land a prime location for training soldiers
during World War 1. The military bought the land from local ranchers
making it under the direction of Fort Ord at that time. It had
been also under Camp Roberts to the south for many decades until
1993 when it was claimed by the Army Reserves and is now the training
site for a wide variety of activities. The military installation
is rich in history. Before becoming a military installation, the
land was inhabited by ranchers and farmers, descendents of the
Salinan Indians. In 1771, Spanish padres started a mission along
the San Antonio River. The opening of San Antonio de Padua brought
agriculture and more residents. This was the third mission opened
in California and became the most prosperous and the most successful
at converting Indians to Christianity. The buildings and land
were transferred to the Franciscans in a deed signed by President
Lincoln in 1862 after the secularization of California missions.
The earthquake in 1904 damaged much of the structure and it sat
for a long time deteriorating. Restoration was mainly accomplished
in the 1920’s through the 1950’s and is currently
held by the installation as a reserved historical site taking
up 85 acres of land. It holds mass on Sundays and has a gift shop
and visitor center during the week. Since it is located on the
military post, you will be required to show the gate guard your
ID, registration, and insurance.
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Things to
do and see Fort Hunter Liggett
“Old Jolon” is a group of buildings on the installation
that is a ghost town of the original town built by Spanish settlers.
After they moved on and the military took over the land, most of
the buildings burned down in a massive fire. The buildings that
are still left standing in a row are the Dutton Hotel, the Tidball
Store, a school, and Saint Luke's Church.
Close by, the Hacienda is a building created by William Hearst to
be a headquarters and lodging house for workers maintaining the
ranch that he owned. Hearst owned much of the property here for
many years and maintained many buildings. Hearst Castle is just
south of the installation as a product of the wealth of Mr. Hearst.
This is just one that is still standing and is maintained. Visitors
can get a close up view of this historic site. For many years, people
mistook its identity for the mission because of the similarity of
style in construction. Another building from William Hearst
is the Tin Barn, which he purchased from San Francisco and had transported
by rail to his land. It was constructed in the Bay Area as a commemoration
of the completion of the Panama Canal. Hearst wanted it for a horse
barn and that is the purpose it served for many years. Currently
it houses the Fort Hunter Liggett fire department. You will
enjoy the history of the military post, the opportunities for taking
pictures, seeing history, and a scenic drive. Don’t forget
to take your identification, vehicle registration, and insurance
and get gas before driving to the post if you are not a member of
the military. There is a gas station on the post but people who
are not in the military are limited to purchasing 5 gallons. Article
by Robin Canada |
Mission San Antonio
De Padua located on an 85-acre area within Fort Hunter Liggett.
The mission was established in 1771 by Spanish explorer, Don Gaspar
de Portola. Over the years the mission fell into disrepair with
several of the roofs collapsing. Between 1902 – 1908, members
of the California Historic Landmarks League rebuilt the church walls
and covered them with a wooden roof. The 1906 earthquake partially
destroyed restoration work but it was quickly resumed. Restoration
funding was provided by donations from private citizens, including
a Hearst Foundation grant. Mission San Antonio de Padua is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places
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| Fort Hunter Liggett, located in southern
Monterey county. Fort Hunter-Liggett, the U.S. Army’s Western
Training Center. For entry, you will be required to present to the
gate guard a valid driver’s license (for the driver and any
passengers over the age of 18) auto registration and proof of insurance.
Make sure your gas tank is full. There is a gas station on base, non-military
drivers are limited to five-gallons. |
| Fort Hunter Liggett directions from
highway 101 north - Turn off on Jolon Road (G14), drive apprx. 22
miles to the entrance to Fort Hunter Liggett. Fort Hunter Liggett
directions from highway 101 south: Take the Jolon Road (G18) exit
located right after the Bradley exit. Drive 26 miles to the Entrance
of Fort Hunter Liggett. |
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