I have listed contact information below but first I want to share some mission facts with you that you can use when you write your letters or send your e-mails. The historical information comes from an article by Betsy Malloy.

The original mission was founded by Father Fermin Lausen on Dec. 8, 1787, who named it La Purisima Concepcion de Maria Santisima. The site of the buildings was in the area near F and Locust streets. On Dec. 21, 1812, an earthquake damaged the buildings. More quakes followed, and most of the buildings fell. When heavy rains began, the unprotected adobe bricks melted back into mud. The priests chose a new site, four miles away in a small canyon, across the river and closer to the El Camino Real.

The priests officially moved there on April 23, 1813. Construction began immediately using materials salvaged from the ruined structures. Problems began to surface after the Mexican Revolution in 1810 when supplies and money from Mexico stopped coming. Soldiers became dependent upon the mission, and often abused the natives. As the situation worsened and eventually led to on uprising. La Purisima Mission never recovered and the buildings were left to ruin.

In 1845 everything was sold at public auction for ,1,100. The buildings lay in ruins until 1903, when Union Oil Company bought the property. Recognizing the historical importance of the site, Union Oil donated it to the state.

In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps started restoring La Purisima Mission. CCC workers used the same methods as the missionaries, made new adobe bricks from the remains of the old walls.

They also recreated the water system, and replanted gardens and orchards. The restoration, the most complete of all the California missions, was finished in 1951. Today, there are 10 fully-restored buildings with

37 furnished rooms.

La Purisima was adopted as an official state monument on Dec. 7, 1941, and listed on the National Register in 1970. The listing on the register recognizes its importance to the community state and nation.

Here are some current statistics that you can use: Park Acreage 1,948 with 23 miles of trails. Visitors 2006/2007, 170,306; 2005/2006 166,554; 2004/2005 160,866. These are statistics from fiscal year 2006/2007: number of school children visiting 20,313; educational hours presented 120,980; number of active volunteers 80; annual number of volunteer hours 13,994; hours of public attendance at interpretive programs 69,619.

For those of you who don/t like to write letters, go to our Web site www.lompoc.com and click on La Purisima letter, address it to all of the above, down load it to your letterhead, print it, sign it and send it on its way. Do it today. You can make a

difference and help hold on to this treasure.

Denny Anderson is president and CEO of the Lompoc Valley

Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

January 29, 2008