Mission Basilica San Buenaventura receives $750K to repair crumbling plaster

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura will receive $750,000 to repair crumbling plaster throughout its structure. The National Park Service announced the grant on Oct. 1 as part of an $11.9 million Semiquincentennial fund intended to preserve historic sites associated with the founding of the United States.

The funds will allow workers to strip the existing plaster, strengthen the adobe interior walls, and apply a more breathable plaster. This work includes repairing the bell tower, which sustained storm damage in 2025. Church officials stated that the structural integrity of the 1782 mission could be at risk if these repairs are not completed.

David Bolton, executive director of the California Missions Foundation, said the foundation helped write and submit the grant proposal. He noted that the mission was the only site in California selected for these specific grants, partly because of funds collected to assist during the American Revolutionary War.