Misión la Purisima Concepción de Maria Santisima (the Mission of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Holy Mary) was the eleventh California mission to be established on Dec. 8, 1787 by Fray Fermín Francisco de Lasuén .

The first site of Misión La Purisima was at the base of some low hills just south of the Santa Inez River within the present-day city of Lompoc. Indians were given considerable freedom during the first years at La Purisima. In all but the harvest season they were allowed as much time off as they desired to move about the countryside and refresh their spirits according to their long-established custom. In 1804 smallpox, measles, and other health problems began to take a heavy toll on the mission Indians. Between 1804-1807 there were about 500 deaths (1 death for every three living at the mission)....total population of mission Indians began a decline.
 

On Dec. 8, 1812, a series of small tremors were experienced at La Purisima causing little or no damage. On Dec. 21, at 10:30 AM, however, a violent earthquake lasting some 4 minutes caused serious damage. Half an hour later, a second and still more violent quake brought down the church and ruined most of the other mission buildings. Heavy rains followed the quake and washed the ruins into a hopeless state of disrepair.
 

 After the great earthquake, the new La Purisima Mission was relocated across the river in a small canyon, La Canada de los Berros. The new site was just two miles northeast of the original founding site right on the famed El Camino Real. La Purisima mission grew to be a large physical plant. The mission eventually held dominion over some 200,000 acres which included eleven ranchos varying in size from 4,500 acres to 50,000 acres. There were two vineyards and an anchorage at Cojo Bay supported by the mission. The main mission complex included a large residence building, a shops and quarters building, a church and numerous utility buildings which included a large warehouse, an Indian barracks, a blacksmith shop, and a small hospital.
 

After 1823, La Purisima suffered a series of setbacks which eventually led to its abandonment as a mission and sale in 1845 to Juan Temple of Los Angeles for $1,100. The mission buildings began to fall into ruin after 1836. By 1904 roof tiles had been removed from the residence building. Subsequent rains eroded away the structure so that by 1934 it had become a series of shapeless mounds of brown adobe overgrown with weeds and brush.
 

The crumbling remains of the mission complex were rescued by the National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps. The National Park Service assigned a staff of historians, archaeologists, engineers, and architects to dig out the facts of the mission's original structure. After nearly a year of study, they developed the plans from which CCC company 1951 rebuilt the entire mission. CCC enrollees used original tools and methods wherever possible. When completed the mission was turned over to the State of California to administer as an Historic Park. More completely restored than any other mission, La Purisima is in fact the largest and most complete restoration in the West.
 

By 1938 the Los Angeles District had some 23 CCC Camps. Nine of the 23 camps were National Forest Service Camps. Five were Soil Conservation Camps. Six were Park Service Camps. Two were National Monument Camps. One was supervised by the Department of Grazing.

The camps associated with La Purisima were Companies 2950, which was a Soil Conservation Camp, and 1951, which was under the jurisdiction of the Park Service. The unique project of the Los Angeles District was considered to be the restoration of La Purisima Conception by Company 1951 at Camp Purisima, SP-29. Company 2950 was formed in April of 1936 and was transported from Fort MacArthur to Camp Lompoc (site of the current La Purisima Mission). For the first several months, the camp fought forest fires. Company 2950 merged with Company 1951 in May of 1937. After the merger, the La Purisima CCC company (camp) became known as the "Twin Camps".
 

With up to 200 men involved in the massive job of reconstruction and restoration, the work went on for several years. The first major project, the residence building, was complete in 1936; the water system, fountains and cistern in 1938; the church in 1939; shops and quarters building in 1940; the monument residences and other misc. jobs including the interior decoration of the church in 1941.

CCC enrollees made by hand 110,000 adobe bricks, 31,000 roof tiles, and 15,000 floor tiles for the residence building alone.

Late in 1941, on the eve of the 154th anniversary of its original founding, La Purisima Mission was ceremoniously opened to the public as a state historic monument. After the outdoor festivities, religious services were given in the old church for the first time in 105 years. The date was Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II.