In 1821, the Mexicans achieved independence from Spain, but the change of rulers created no changes in the way the missions operated. Founder: Fr. Mission Santa Clara was the 8th Mission founded in the Alta California mission chain. This is the only mission that is part of a university. It was the first California mission to honor a female saint. The Mission was founded on January 12, 1777 by Father Jose Murguia and Father Tomas de la Pena. Saint Clare was a nun that founded the order of the Poor Clares. The Mission was named after Saint Clare of Assisi. Features: Restored church built in 1929 after being destroyed by fire in 1926, old adobe room and wall from mission period. Father John Nobili started a college there that became Santa Clara University. Mission Santa Clara de Asís was the second mission established in the San Francisco Bay area. "The Mission City" was founded in 1852 and has grown into an internationally diverse community of about 120,000 residents with employment base of about 106,750. Sadly, the renovated mission church that had been upgraded over the years, burned in a fire in 1926. Mission Santa Clara de Asis was founded on January 12, 1777 by Father Junipero Serra, Presidente of the California Missions Chain. The site first chosen was near Guadalupe River, not far from the head of San Francisco bay, and about 3 miles from its present position. (Mission Santa Clara, the closest mission, was founded earlier in 1777, three miles (5 km) from the original pueblo site in neighboring Santa Clara. The mission was founded January 12, 1777. This was the first mission named for a woman, Saint Claire of Assisi, founder of the Poor Clares order of nuns. Historic Mission Santa Clara is a consecrated Roman Catholic church situated on the campus of Santa Clara University. Location: 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053 Date founded: January 12, 1777. Native peoples: Ohlone (Costanoan), Yokuts (from the Central Valley).. Goods produced: Wheat, other crops.. With its fertile land and large Indian population, the Bay Area proved an excellent location for the mission, and it quickly became one of the most prosperous in the mission system. The Franciscan padres (priests) selected the fertile valley discovered by Ortega to establish the eighth mission, Mission Santa Clara, named for Saint Clare. It was the 8th mission in the 21 mission chain in Alta California. It was named for Saint Clare of Assisi, founder of the order "Poor Clares". Mission Santa Clara - Founded 1777 Creator Hare, Alice Date Created and/or Issued 1904/ / Contributing Institution History San Jose Research Library Collection History San Jose Online Catalog Rights Information Please contact the contributing institution for more information regarding the copyright status of this object. First established in 1777, the Franciscan Order handed the Mission over to the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1851, who then started Santa Clara College, the first institution of higher education in California. Here the mission was founded, Jan. 12, 1777, and dedicated to Santa Clara … The eighth Franciscan mission established in California. This site was called Thamien by the natives. In 1850, California became a state and the Jesuit order of priests took charge of Mission Santa Clara de Asis. Santa Clara was the first mission to be named after a woman. Description Junípero Serra.. Patron saint: St. Clare of Assisi.. On Jan. 12, 1777, Fray de la Peña said the first Mass at the new Mission Santa Clara de Asís, the eighth mission to be founded in California. Mission San José was not founded until 1797, about 20 miles (30 km) north of San Jose in what is now Fremont.) Founded by the Franciscan order, it was the eighth Spanish mission built in California, was founded on January 12, 1777.