The Mission Play

In 1927 the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse was constructed to house the production.

[1] In 1902, reflecting an interest in Spanish California brought upon by the success of Helen Hunt Jackson's Ramona combined with population influx from new railroads connecting Southern California to the rest of the United States, Frank Augustus Miller changed the name of his father's 1876 hotel from the "Glenwood Hotel" to the "Mission Inn."

During the 30-year construction period Miller traveled the world, collecting treasures to bring back to the hotel for display.

Miller took McGroarty to Mount Rubidoux in Riverside where beneath "the shadow of the cross erected to the memory of Father Serra, the plan unfolded."

[2] Along with McGroarty came investment from other Southern California deep-pocketed heavy-hitters, including railroad magnate and collector of art and rare books, Henry E. Huntington; the son-in-law of the owner and future publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Henry Chandler; and one of Southern California's first oil tycoons, Edward L.