Adventure 049/101, Mission 05 - Mission San Miguel

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 101 - 05 : Mission San Miguel Arcangel, 16th mission

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 12, 2012

Location: San Miguel

Description:
Coming from the remoteness of Mission San Antonio, Mission San Miguel almost looks like it is the center of civilization. And back in its day, it was the center of civilization for the area. Just looking at the paintings/murals gives a sense of the culture brought to the mission. All of this points back to the spirit which the Franciscan Fathers brought to the mission. The bells which called to worship to even something as ordinary as abalone shells painted on the walls of the mission showing how their faith was a valuable asset. Even the bells on the campanolo in front of the mission—shown above—calls all to worship.



From California From Wikipedia site:
Father Fermín Lasuén founded the mission on July 25, 1797, making it the sixteenth California mission. Its location between Mission San Luis Obispo and Mission San Antonio de Padua provided a stop on the trip that had previously taken two days. In 1803, the mission reported an Indian population of 908, while its lands grazed 809 cattle, 3,223 sheep, 342 horses and 29 mules. That year's harvest included about 2,186 fanegas of wheat and corn (A fanega was about 220 pounds). Most of the mission burned, while still being developed, in 1806. It was rebuilt within a year.
On July 15, 1836, the Mexican government secularized mission lands, including Mission San Miguel, and Ygnacio Coronel took charge.
In 1846, Governor Pío Pico sold the Mission for $600 to Petronillo Rios and William Reed. Reed used the Mission as a family residence and a store. In 1848, Reed and his family were murdered,leaving the Mission vacant for a period of time. The Mission was a stopping place for miners coming from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and was consequently was used as a saloon, dance hall, storeroom and living quarters.
In 1859, President James Buchanan returned the Mission to the Church.
In 1878, after 38 years without a resident padre, Father Philip Farrelly became the "First Pastor" of Mission San Miguel Arcángel. Through all the years the priests kept the church in condition and it is called the best-preserved church in the mission chain today. In 1928, Mission San Miguel Arcángel and Mission San Antonio de Padua were returned to the Franciscan order. Since then, the Mission has been repaired and restored, and has one of the best-preserved interiors (which gives one of the best examples of old mission life).

From California Missions Resource Center site:

Mission Church: The present church, begun in 1816 under the direction of Fr. Juan Martin, was completed in 1818. A picturesque colonnade which leads to the church contains twelve arches of different sizes and shapes, unique among the California missions.

Mission Bells: Mission San Miguel never had a traditional bell tower. In the mission era bells were hung from a wooden beam in one of the archways. The bell which currently hangs there was cast in Mexico City in 1800. A Bell Tower located inside the mission cemetery houses three bells, the largest of which weights 2,000 pounds and was recast in 1888 from six cracked and broken bells from other missions. This Bell Tower was designed and built in mid 1930s by Jess Crettoll, a stonemason from Switzerland. The large bell is used to sound the Angelus . There is another bell tower at San Miguel, a brick companario located on the south end of the mission property. The bells which hang in it are not real, but cast in cement. This bell tower was built in 1950s by Jesse Crettol, Jess Crettol's oldest son.

Mission Art: The interior of the San Miguel church is rich in vibrantly painted murals considered the best preserved and most authentic in the mission chain. The Neoclassical decor was completed in 1820-21 by the mission Indians under the direction of artist, raqncher and Spanish diplotmat Esteban Carlos Munras of Monterey.

Special Attraction: The worn adobe walls, ancient gateways, and simple adobe structures of the mission complex make this one of the most authentic looking missions in the chain.

Interesting Facts: 

The mission buildings were sold in 1845 and portions rented for a store, dance hall, offices, and a saloon between 1848-1870.
The fountain in front of the mission is not original (it was built in the 1940s) but harmonizes well with the rest of the mission. The design was adapted from the fountain in Mission Santa Barbara.
An original mission wine vat is located in a room at the south end of the convent that has served as a temporary chapel since the 2003 earthquake that closed the church.











From California State Parks site:

Founded in 1797 by Father Lasuen to complete the mission chain from San Luis Obispo to Mission Dolores in San Francisco, San Miguel was located in the Salinas Valley as a mid point between the San Luis Obispo and San Antonio Missions. Under the direction of Esteban Munros, the Indians painted the walls and ceilings with ornate designs; the original murals are today the best preserved in California. San Miguel had no bell tower, its 2,000 lb. bell rang out from a wooden platform in front of the mission and now sits in its own campanario behind the church. The mission has an annual fiesta on the third Sunday in September to celebrate the Feast Day of its patron, Saint Michael, chief of the Archangels and Prince of the Heavenly Armies.
801 Mission St., San Miguel, 93451, (805) 467-3256