Photos: Construction Begins in Earnest

And it’s begun.

While city officials and local dignitaries  last month on the improvements to the gatehouse at , the real work began Monday.

The  is part of a bigger $3.3 million project that will see the eventual relocating the existing, privately operated, gift shop use to the corner, making the historic Sala available for future museum space as well as constructing a new ticket booth and welcome area for guests.

The first phase will include the rehabilitation of the historically significant original 1916 gatehouse and the reconstruction of the perimeter wall along Camino Capistrano, the installation of a new group entry, and the construction of a public plaza in 2012, according to a Mission fact sheet for the project.