Mission San Miguel Arcángel facts for kids
San Miguel's various-sized arches are a noted feature of this mission
|
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 775 Mission Street San Miguel, San Luis Obispo County, California 93451 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°44′41″N 120°41′53″W / 35.74472°N 120.69806°W |
| Name as founded | La Misión del Gloriosísimo Príncipe Arcángel, Señor San Miguel |
| English translation | The Mission of the Very Glorious Archangel Prince, Sir Saint Michael |
| Patron | Saint Michael the Archangel |
| Nickname(s) | "Mission on the Highway" ... "The Unretouched Mission" |
| Founding date | July 25, 1797 |
| Founding priest(s) | Father Fermín Lasuén |
| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1821 |
| Architectural style(s) | Queen Anne |
| Founding Order | Sixteenth |
| Military district | Third |
| Native tribe(s) Spanish name(s) |
Salinan |
| Native place name(s) | Valica |
| Baptisms | 2,471 |
| Marriages | 764 |
| Burials | 1,868 |
| Secularized | 1834 |
| Returned to the Church | 1859 |
| Governing body | Diocese of Monterey |
| Current use | Parish Church |
| Designated | July 14, 1971 |
| Reference no. | 71000191 |
| Designated | March 20, 2006 |
| Reference no. | #326 |
| Website | |
| http://www.missionsanmiguel.org/ | |
Mission San Miguel Arcángel is a historic Spanish mission located in San Miguel, California. It was started on July 25, 1797, by the Franciscan order. The site was chosen because many Salinan Indians lived there. Spanish priests wanted to teach them about Christianity.
Today, the mission is still used as a church by the Diocese of Monterey. It was closed for six years after the 2003 San Simeon earthquake. The church reopened its doors on September 29, 2009. Inside, you can see beautiful murals designed by Esteban Munras.
The mission is a very important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Later, it became a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Among California's missions, it still has many of its original buildings and layout. This includes parts of the village where Native Americans lived.
Contents
History of Mission San Miguel
.jpg)
Father Fermín Lasuén and Father Buenaventura Sitjar founded this mission. They started it on July 25, 1797. It was the sixteenth California mission to be built. Its location was important. It was placed between Mission San Luis Obispo and Mission San Antonio de Padua. This made the long trip between missions much shorter, cutting a two-day journey.
At first, a temporary wooden church was built. It also had living quarters for the priests. The site was chosen near a Salinan Indian village called Vahca. In 1798, the small chapel was replaced with a larger one. From 1816 to 1818, a new, bigger church was built. This church had a tile roof and a courtyard.
After the Mexican secularization act of 1833, the mission's land was sold off. This act meant the government took control of mission properties. The mission buildings started to fall apart. The William Reed family lived in the buildings until 1848. Padre Abella, the last Franciscan priest at San Miguel, passed away in July 1841.
In 1859, the U.S. government gave the mission back to the Catholic Church. However, the buildings were in very bad shape. No priests were sent to live there. Instead, parts of the buildings were rented out to small businesses. In 1878, the Church officially reopened the mission. Reverend Philip Farrelly became its first pastor. In 1928, the mission was returned to the Franciscan Padres. These were the same religious group who had founded the mission in 1797.
Key Features of the Mission
- The Mission Arcade is a series of 12 arches. These arches are original and have been there since the mission was built.
- The arches have different shapes and sizes. This unique design was planned from the start. The mission is well-known for this special arcade.
- The first chapel was replaced within a year. A larger adobe chapel was built, but it burned in an 1806 fire.
- The church you see today was built between 1816 and 1818. It is about 44 meters (144 feet) long. It is also 8 meters (27 feet) wide and 12 meters (40 feet) high.
- Next to the church is a cemetery. It holds the remains of 2,249 Native Americans. Their names are listed in the mission's old records.
- The painted walls inside the church are original. Artist Esteban Munras and other Salinan artists created this artwork.
Mission Bells and Their Role
Bells were very important for daily life at any mission. They were rung for many reasons. Bells called people to meals, to work, and to church services. They were also rung during births and funerals. Bells signaled when a ship was arriving or a missionary was returning. New priests learned the special ways to ring the mission bells.
Nearby Historic Structures
The Rios-Caledonia Adobe was built in 1835. It is just south of the San Miguel Mission. This building was once a home for the person who managed the mission lands. Today, this historic site is well-preserved. The original inn and stagecoach stop are now a museum and a small gift shop. A new building was added in 1930. It now serves as a unique history research library. San Luis Obispo County Parks maintains the grounds. There are picnic areas and restrooms available for visitors.
The Historic Rios-Caledonia Adobe is a California Historical Landmark (#936). It is also listed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places (#71000190).
Images for kids
-
The interior of Mission San Miguel Arcángel is one of the best preserved of all the missions of California. It features murals executed by noted artist Esteban Munrás in the 1820s.
-
Mission plaza -
Ojo de Dios, above altar -
Adobe wall and bell tower at Mission San Miguel Arcangel -
Fountain in plaza
See also
In Spanish: Misión San Miguel Arcángel para niños
- Spanish missions in California
- List of Spanish missions in California
- USNS Mission San Miguel (AO-129) – a ship named after the mission. It was a fleet oiler built during World War II.
- Ygnacio Coronel (1795–1862). In 1836, Coronel was appointed commissioner of the secularized Mission.
- List of National Historic Landmarks in California
