Mission San Rafael Arcángel facts for kids
The reconstructed capilla (chapel) of Mission San Rafael Arcángel is to the right of Saint Raphael's Church.
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 Location in California
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| Location | 1104 5th Avenue San Rafael, California 94901-2916 |
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| Coordinates | 37°58′27.6″N 122°31′40.5″W / 37.974333°N 122.527917°W |
| Name as founded | La Misión del Gloriosísimo Príncipe San Rafael, Arcángel |
| English translation | The Mission of the Glorious Prince, Archangel Saint Raphael |
| Patron | The Glorious Prince Saint Raphael, Archangel |
| Nickname(s) | "Mission of Bodily Healing" |
| Founding date | December 14, 1817 |
| Founding priest(s) | Father Vicente Francisco de Sarría |
| Founding Order | Twentieth |
| Military district | Fourth |
| Native tribe(s) Spanish name(s) |
Coast Miwok, Pomo |
| Native place name(s) | 'Anaguani |
| Baptisms | 1,821 |
| Marriages | 519 |
| Burials | 652 |
| Secularized | 1834 |
| Returned to the Church | 1855 |
| Governing body | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco |
| Current use | Chapel / Museum |
| Reference no. | 220 |
| Website | |
| http://saintraphael.com | |
Mission San Rafael Arcángel is one of the old Spanish missions located in San Rafael, California. It was started in 1817. At first, it was a special "sub-mission" of Mission San Francisco de Asís. Its main job was to be a hospital for sick Native Americans. This made it the first "sanitarium" (a place for healing) in Alta California (which is now California).
The weather in San Rafael was much better than in San Francisco. This helped people who were sick get better. Even though it was not planned to be a full mission, it grew a lot. Because of its growth, it became a full mission on October 19, 1822.
Contents
History of Mission San Rafael
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded on December 14, 1817. Father Vicente Francisco de Sarría started it. It was first a medical asistencia, which means a "sub-mission." Its purpose was to help sick people from the San Francisco Mission. It became a full mission in 1822.
Changes Under Mexican Rule
In 1833, the Mexican government took control of many missions, including this one. This was part of a process called "secularization." By 1840, about 150 Native Americans still lived at the Mission. The Mission was abandoned by 1844. The empty buildings were sold for $8,000 in 1846.
During the Bear Flag Revolt, John C. Fremont used the Mission as his main base.
Later Years and Reconstruction
In 1847, a priest returned to live at the Mission. A new church was built near the old chapel ruins in 1861. By 1870, the rest of the old Mission buildings were removed. This was done to make space for the growing City of San Rafael.
Only one pear tree from the Mission's old orchard was left. Because of this, Mission San Rafael is known as the "most obliterated" (meaning most destroyed or removed) of California's missions.
In 1949, a copy of the original chapel was built. It stands next to the current Saint Raphael's Church. This new chapel is on the same spot where the first hospital was built in 1919.
See also
In Spanish: Misión San Rafael Arcángel para niños
- Spanish missions in California
- List of Spanish missions in California
- Chief Marin
- Mission San Francisco de Asís
- Mission San Francisco Solano
- USNS Mission San Rafael (AO-130) – a ship built during World War II.
