Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad facts for kids
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Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
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 Location in California
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| Location | 36641 Fort Romie Road Soledad, California 93960 |
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| Coordinates | 36°24′16.6278″N 121°21′20.9046″W / 36.404618833°N 121.355806833°W |
| Name as founded | La Misión de María Santísima, Nuestra Señora Dolorosísima de la Soledad |
| English translation | The Mission of Mary Most Holy, Our Most Sorrowful Lady of Solitude |
| Patron | Our Lady of Solitude, Our Most Sorrowful Lady of Solitude |
| Nickname(s) | "The Holy Mission" |
| Founding date | October 9, 1791 |
| Founding priest(s) | Fermín Francisco de Lasuén |
| Founding Order | Thirteenth |
| Military district | Third |
| Native tribe(s) Spanish name(s) |
Chalon, Esselen, Yokuts, Salinan |
| Native place name(s) | Chuttusqelis |
| Baptisms | 2,131 (by 1832) |
| Marriages | 648 (by 1832) |
| Burials | 1,705 (by 1832) |
| Secularized | 1835 |
| Returned to the Church | 1859 |
| Governing body | Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey |
| Current use | Chapel / Museum |
| Reference no. |
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Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, often called Mission Soledad, is a historic Spanish mission. It is located in Soledad, California. The mission was started by the Franciscan order on October 9, 1791. Its goal was to share the Catholic faith with the Native Americans living nearby.
This was the thirteenth of California's 21 Spanish missions. It is named after Mary, Our Lady of Solitude. The nearby town of Soledad also gets its name from the mission. After 1835, the mission was no longer run by the church. Its buildings fell apart and became ruins.
A big project to fix up the mission started in 1954. A new chapel was finished in 1955. Today, this chapel is used for services by the Diocese of Monterey. The old priests' home was also rebuilt. It now serves as a museum where you can learn about the mission's past.
Contents
Discover Mission Soledad
A Look Back: Mission History
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was founded on October 9, 1791. It was started by Fermín Francisco de Lasuén. This made it the 13th of 21 missions built in California. Its full Spanish name means "The Mission of Mary Most Holy, Our Lady of Sorrows of Solitude."
Life at the Mission
Many Chalon people, who were part of the Ohlone tribe, came to live at the mission. Later, Esselen and Yokuts people also joined. By 1803, there were 627 Native Americans living at Mission Soledad. Many Chalon people married Esselen speakers there. Other Yokuts people were brought to the mission between 1806 and 1834.
The mission had many animals. They kept about 1,150 cattle and 5,000 sheep. There were also 30 pigs, 670 horses, and 40 mules. Spanish Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga visited the mission. He sadly passed away there on July 24, 1814. He was buried in the mission's chapel.
Challenges and Changes
The mission faced tough times. Big floods hit the area in 1824, 1828, and 1832. These floods caused a lot of damage. In 1835, the mission was "secularized." This means it was no longer controlled by the church. Instead, the government took over its lands and buildings.
After secularization, Pio Pico sold the mission for about $800. The remaining buildings were stripped for materials. The mission's land then became known as Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad.
Bringing it Back: Restoration
In 1954, when work began to restore Mission Soledad, not much was left. There were mostly just piles of adobe dirt. Only a few wall sections from the main quadrangle remained. The chapel was rebuilt and opened again on October 9, 1955. This project was supported by the Native Daughters of the Golden West.
You can still see the ruins of the quadrangle and the cemetery today. Governor Arrillaga's grave was found and given a new marker. Today, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is a working Catholic chapel. It also has a public museum for visitors.
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More to Explore
- Spanish missions in California
- List of Spanish missions in California
- USNS Mission Soledad (AO-136) – a large ship built during World War II.
See also
In Spanish: Misión Nuestra Señora de la Soledad para niños
