Ramona Chapel (Heritage Junction)

24101 Newhall Ave Newhall

See directions

Heritage Junction

This chapel was built in 1926 to resemble the chapel at Rancho Camulos made famous in Helen Hunt Jackson's novel Ramona. It was originally built as part of Mission Village, Robert E. Callahan's 1920s western town and amusement area in Santa Monica. From 1926 until 1962, it was the centerpiece of Robert E. Callahan's Mission Village in Culver City. 

Mrs. Marion Callahan (Kitty Kelley) states that her late husband assembled bits and pieces of old churches, some as old as 200 years. However, the guide book for the Village describes the altar made from ruins of a 200-year-old mission. The 48 cup brass candelabra was donated by Mrs. Bond. Here Gary Cooper was inducted into the Sioux Nation. John Wayne used it as a movie set, and the chapel was visited by Wyatt Earp, Will Rogers, Joan Crawford, and many other stars. 

Courtesy of Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society