This park is part of a nationally recognized historic landmark and can be found adjacent to the extant portion of one of California’s 21 Spanish era mission church sites. The park and its Plaza represent what was once the “town square” of the largest town in central California and was a vital crossroad for travel between northern and southern California. In the park visitors can gain an appreciation of California peoples, from Native Americans, through the Spanish and Mexican cultural influences, right up to the American period in the late 19th century.