San Juan Capistrano Docent Society Member Designed New City Seal

San Juan Capistrano Docent Society Member Designed New City Seal

Kimberleigh Gavin, a member of the SJC Docent Society for 13 years, designed the new city seal for San Juan Capistrano. Her design was selected last September and is now being used throughout the city. The SJC Docent Society asked Kimberleigh to describe the new seal and how the design came to be. Below is…

2024 Swallows Day Parade

2024 Swallows Day Parade

The 64th Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Fair will be held on Saturday, March 23rd, 2024. The Fiesta de las Golondrinas celebrates the return of the swallows to the San Juan Capistrano Mission on St. Joseph’s Day, which is March, 19th. The Parade and Mercado Street Faire offer a full day of family…

Basket Weaving Workshop

Basket Weaving Workshop

The San Juan Capistrano Docent Society has a Native American basket-weaving workshop with Domingo Belardes, as the Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum Foundation Curator. Domingo demonstrated how to make a basket and he helped us weave our own, unique baskets. The members enjoyed making a hands-on, historic piece of art. The group gathered at the Blas…

City Council Declares May as National Historic Preservation Month

City Council Declares May as National Historic Preservation Month

With San Juan Capistrano being a town steeped in history, San Juan Capistrano Mayor Howard Hart issued a proclamation recognizing May as National Historic Preservation Month on April 18. The San Juan Cultural Heritage Commission and Docent Society will host a celebration to coincide with the monthlong designation on May 6 at the Blas Aguilar…

Docent Society Intends to Help with National Historic Preservation Month Celebrations

Docent Society Intends to Help with National Historic Preservation Month Celebrations

The San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission approved a proposal from the San Juan Capistrano Docent Society to help with National Historic Preservation Month recognition this coming May. Commissioners discussed the assistance on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Celebrations will be held in May in Downtown San Juan Capistrano on a to-be-determined Saturday date. The Docent Society offered to give…

Ione R. Stiegler to be Guest Speaker at San Juan Capistrano Docent Society Meeting

Ione R. Stiegler to be Guest Speaker at San Juan Capistrano Docent Society Meeting

Ione R. Stiegler, FAIA and the Principal Architect for IS Architecture will be speaking at the upcoming San Juan Capistrano Docent Society meeting on Thursday, April 21. Ms. Stiegler is a leading expert in historic adobe and earthen structures. Her studio specializes in applying the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic…

2022 Swallows Day Parade

2022 Swallows Day Parade

“The 62nd Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Fair will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022. The Fiesta de las Golondrinas celebrates the return of the swallows to the San Juan Capistrano Mission on St. Joseph’s Day, which is March, 19th. The Parade takes place throughout downtown San Juan Capistrano. The Swallows Day…

Ilse Byrnes

Ilse Byrnes

Ilse Byrnes was a Swiss-born, longtime resident of San Juan Capistrano who pursued community service with conviction. She successfully nominated 16 historic places in Orange County to the California and National Registers including the Los Rios Historic District and the Esslinger Building (against much popular dismay) in SJC, and Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. Although…

Jennifer Keil of 70 Degrees

Jennifer Keil of 70 Degrees

Jennifer Keil presented to the San Juan Capistrano Docent Society on February 17, 2022. As the Founder of 70 Degrees, she shared about developing and directing the Moulton Museum that will open in summer 2022 in Laguna Hills. Keil focused on the historic development of Rancho Niguel once owned by Don Juan Avila who sold…