'Old San Juan' Mural: San Juan Capistrano Photos Of The Week

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — "Old San Juan,” a mural by acclaimed sculptor Randy Morgan depicting the region's history, was unveiled last month at Capistrano Plaza in San Juan Capistrano.

The plaza art installation — a hefty, seven-panel project that measures 11 feet high by 17 feet long — captures the diverse, 200-year history of San Juan Capistrano and Orange County.

The mural, at 31751 Camino Capistrano, was commissioned by local businessman Dan Almquist as a gift to the community.

“This will serve as an enduring landmark for the city, thanks to the generosity of those who have been instrumental in the recent renovation and revitalization of downtown San Juan Capistrano,” said artist Morgan. “It’s wonderful to work with a developer who understands the value of public artwork within a community and the importance of preserving this area’s rich history."

The seven panels, that make up the mural, weigh roughly 100 pounds each and took six months for Morgan and his team to complete, sponsors said.

Each panel was sculpted from a two-part, epoxy clay, that eventually hardens like stone, followed by a cold-poured bronze metal coat. A patina acid was then applied, followed by hand-painted layers for a distinctive finish.

The panels cover such key historical events as the Portolá Expedition by colonial Spanish explorers in 1769 and the establishment of the Los Rios Historic District in 1794, plus scenes of everyday life depicting Vaqueros (cattle drivers).

Each of the seven panels have accompanying QR codes that let visitors learn more about each individual story depicted in the panels.

To ensure historical accuracy, donor Almquist turned for input to Stephen Rios and Matt Belardes, members of San Juan Capistrano’s oldest families, regarded as “Original Californios.”

“This was really something that was important to me, my family and my partners to celebrate and honor the heritage of this great city — where we call home, where we work and where we want to continue investing in for years to come,” said Almquist, of Frontier Real Estate Investments. “We wanted this to be an inclusive piece that would tie in the community’s past, present and future.”

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