Chapman Millrace

Project Name: Chapman Millrace
Project Owner: City of San Gabriel
Project Location: San Gabriel, CA
Year Completed: 2013

Project Description

MSC coordinated the excavation at the donor site with Cen-Cal Heavy Moving. This historic, 20 foot, 15 ton stone feature was moved to the receiver site and now sited across the street from San Gabriel City Hall and in front of the San Gabriel Mission complex. MSC performed the restoration of the stone and created a continuous water flow system.

History

The historic millrace, designed by ex-pirate Joseph Chapman and built in 1820 by Gabrielenos living at the San Gabriel Mission. It carried water from nearby rivers to the mission to power a grist mill and irrigate crops, making the mission one of the most successful in California’s mission chain. The Chapman Millrace was the last remaining section of a manmade water convenience system.