Removal of Junipero Serra Statue in California
California officials have taken down a 26-foot statue of Father Junipero Serra from a rest area on Highway 280 in San Mateo County. This marks the first time the statue has been removed in nearly 50 years, as confirmed by the state Department of Transportation.
Caltrans staff removed the concrete and steel monument from the Crystal Springs rest area in Hillsboro during August, closing the site for about a week without much public notice. Patricia Gonzalez, who manages the rest area, mentioned that visitors are still surprised to find the statue missing. “The last person to come was an Irishman and he came to see the statue, but it was gone,” she said.
The statue, created by artist Louis Dubois, was installed in 1975 and had been a well-known landmark for commuters using Interstate 280 for decades.
According to Caltrans, the removal was necessary as the monument no longer complies with the Transportation Arts Program and is too delicate to move safely. The program aims to showcase artwork that embodies the community’s unique values, including its history and culture.
Father Serra was instrumental in founding nine of California’s 21 missions in the 18th century. However, some critics regard him as a symbol of colonization and the suffering of Native Americans. Greg Castro, cultural director of the Rameitus Ohlone Association, expressed support for the statue’s removal, saying that it ignores historical harm. “One of the reactions we get is that we’re trying to erase history,” Castro remarked. “And my answer is that this statue itself erases history and ignores the harm that was done.”
On the other hand, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordione criticized the removal, arguing that local Catholics and residents were not consulted and that many would oppose the decision. “No one fought for St. Junipero Serra,” he stated. “It appears that officials at Caltrans and the Transportation Arts Program did not consult anyone with a different opinion than theirs.”
In the wake of riots in 2020, statues of Father Serra were vandalized and removed across California, including one that was toppled in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Currently, Caltrans has no plans to replace the monument.
