California missions spotlight: Legendary entertainer Bob Hope is buried at San Fernando Rey de España
San Fernando Rey de España, Mission Hills
17th mission
1797
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The current mission church is a replica, constructed after the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. The altar and pulpit were imported from Spain, where they were carved from walnut in the 1680s. The long neighboring building, the convento, where the museum rooms are, dates to 1822. Bob Hope is buried at the mission, and a memorial garden honors him. “La Bamba” singer Ritchie Valens is buried in the cemetery next door.
Nearby: The Hansen Dam Recreation Center (bit.ly/1mixNgE) is about six miles east of the mission in Lake View Terrace. It includes a 1 1/2 -acre lake for swimming, a 9-acre lake for fishing and boating, picnic areas and a golf course.
Info: 15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd., Mission Hills; (818) 361-0186, no website. Driving distance from Los Angeles City Hall: 23 miles northwest.
From the archives:
In 1927, The Times wrote about motorists who visit the mission in San Fernando drawn by its charm and the ease of travel on a paved highway.
In 1987, The Times wrote about Pope John Paul II’s visit to the Mission San Fernando Rey de España.
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