Mission San Francisco de Asís

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Mission San Francisco de Asís

"Mission Dolores" on a rainy San Francisco day in December 2004. The original adobe Mission structure is the smaller building at left, while the larger structure is a basilica completed in 1918.
Location	San Francisco, California
Name as Founded	La Misión de Nuestro Padre San Francisco de Asís [1]
Translation	The Mission of Our Father Saint Francis de Assisi
Namesake	Saint Francis of Assisi
Nickname(s)	"Mission Dolores", "Mission Dolores Basilica"  [2]
Founding Date	June 29, 1776 [3]
Founding Priest(s)	Father Francisco Palóu
Founding Order	Sixth
Military District	Fourth
Native Tribe(s) Spanish Name(s)	Costeño, Coast Miwok, Bay Miwok, Patwin
Owner	Roman Catholic Church
Current Use	Parish Church
National Historic Landmark	#NPS-72000251
Web Site	http://www.missiondolores.org

Mission San Francisco de Asís is the oldest surviving structure in San Franciso and the sixth religious settlement established as part of the California chain of missions. The Mission was founded on June 29, 1776 by Lt. José Joaquin Moraga and Father Francisco Palóu, both members of the de Anza Expedition, which had been charged with bringing Spanish settlers to northern California.

[edit] History

The settlement was named for St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order, but was also commonly known as Mission Dolores owing to the presence of a nearby creek named "Arroyo de los Dolores," or "Creek of Sorrows." A member of the Anza Expedition, Friar Font, writes about the spot chosen for the Mission:

"We rode about one league to the east [from the Presidio], one to the east-southeast, and one to the southeast, going over hills covered with bushes, and over valleys of good land. We thus came upon two lagoons and several springs of good water, meanwhile encountering much grass, fennel and other good herbs. When we arrived at a lovely creek, which because it was the Friday of Sorrows, we called the [creek] Arroyo de los Dolores ... On the banks of the Arroyo ... we discovered many frangrant chamomiles and other herbs, and many wild violets. Near the streamlet the lieutenant planted a little corn and some garbanzos in order to try out the soil, which to us appeared good." ^[4]

The original Mission consisted of a log and thatch structure dedicated on October 9, 1776 after the required church documents arrived. It was located about a block-and-a-half east of the present Mission, near what is today the intersection of Camp and Albion Streets on the shores of a lake (long since filled) called Lago de los Dolores. ^[5] A historical marker is currently placed at that location.

The present Mission church was dedicated in 1791. It was constructed of adobe and part of a complex of buildings used for housing, agricultural and manufacturing enterprises (see architecture of the California missions). Though most of the Mission complex, including the quadrangle and convento, has either been altered or demolished outright during the intervening years, the façade of the Mission chapel has remained relatively unchanged since its construction. in 1782–1791.

According to Mission historian, Brother Guire Cleary, the early 19th century saw the greatest period of activity at Mission Dolores:

"At its peak in 1810-1820, the average Indian population at Pueblo Dolores was about 1,100 persons. The California missions were not only houses of worship. They were farming communities, manufacturers of all sorts of products, hotels, ranches, hospitals, schools, and the centers of the largest communities in the state ... in 1810 the Mission owned 11,000 sheep, 11,000 cows, and thousands of horses, goats, pigs, and mules. Its ranching and farming operations extended as far south as San Mateo and east to Alameda. Horses were corralled on Potrero Hill, and the milking sheds for the cows were located along Dolores Creek at what is today Mission High School. Twenty looms were kept in operation to process wool into cloth. The circumference of the mission's holdings were said to have been about 125 miles." ^[6]

The Mission chapel, along with "Father Serra's Church" at Mission San Juan Capistrano, is one of only two surviving buildings where Father Junípero Serra is known to have officiated (although "Dolores" was still under construction at the time of Serra's visit). In 1817, Mission San Rafael Arcángel was established as an asistencia to act as a hospital for the Mission, though it would later be granted full mission status in 1822.

The Mexican War of Independence (1810 - 1821) strained relations between the Mexican government and the California missions. Supplies were scant, and the Indians who worked at the missions continued to suffer terrible losses from disease and cultural disruption (more than 5,000 Indians are thought to have been buried in the cemetery adjacent to the Mission). In 1834, the Mexican government enacted secularization laws whereby most church property was sold or granted to private owners. In practical terms, this meant that the missions would hold title only to the churches, the residences of the priests and a small amount of land surrounding the church for use as gardens. In the period that followed, Mission Dolores fell on very hard times. By 1842, only eight Christian Indians were living at Mission Dolores.^[7]

The California Gold Rush brought renewed activity to the Mission Dolores area. In the 1850s, two plank roads were constructed from what is today downtown San Francisco to the Mission, and the entire area became a popular resort and entertainment district. ^[8] Some of the Mission properties were sold or leased for use as saloons and gambling halls, racetracks were constructed, and fights between bulls and bears were staged for crowds. The Mission complex also underwent alterations. Part of the convento was converted to a two-story wooden wing for use as a seminary and priests' quarters, while another section became the "Mansion House," a popular tavern and way station for travelers. ^[9]

By 1876, the Mansion House portion of the convento had been razed and replaced with a large Gothic Revival brick church, designed to serve the growing population of immigrants who were now making the Mission area their home. During this period, wood clapboard siding was applied to the original adobe chapel walls as both a cosmetic and a protective measure; the veneer was later removed when the Mission was restored.

During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the adjacent brick church was destroyed. By contrast, the original adobe Mission, though damaged, remained in relatively good condition. However, the ensuing fire touched off by the earthquake reached almost to the Mission's doorstep. To prevent the spread of flames, the Convent and School of Notre Dame across the street was dynamited by firefighters; nevertheless, nearly all the blocks east of Dolores Street and north of 20th street were consumed by flames.

In 1913, construction began on a new church (now known as the Mission Dolores Basilica) adjacent to the Mission, which was completed in 1918. This structure was further remodeled in 1926 with churrigueresque ornamentation inspired by the Panama-California Exposition held in San Diego's Balboa Park. A sensitive restoration of the origial adobe Mission was undertaken in 1917 by the noted architect, Willis Polk.

In 1952, San Francisco Archbishop John J. Mitty, announced that Pope Pius XII had elevated Mission Dolores to the status of a Minor Basilica. This was the first designation of a basilica west of the Mississippi and the fifth basilica named in the United States. Today, the larger, newer church is called "Mission Dolores Basilica" while the original adobe structure retains the name of Mission Dolores.

The Mission is still an active church in San Francisco. Many people attend services in the Mission church and even more attend mass in the adjacent basilica. The Mission is open to visitors, and is located on Dolores Street near its intersection with 16th Street. The Mission District is the name of the San Francisco neighborhood adjacent to the Mission. The current Pastor of Mission Dolores is Reverend William J. Justice.

[edit] Other historic designations

• California Historical Landmark #327-1 site of original Mission Dolores chapel and Dolores Lagoon
• California Historical Landmark #393 — "The Hospice," an outpost of Mission Dolores founded in 1800 in San Mateo, California
• California Historical Landmark #784 — El Camino Real (the northernmost point visited by Father Serra)

[edit] Miscellany

• In Vertigo, detective Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart) follows Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) into Mission Dolores and out to the cemetery, where she lays flowers at the grave of "Carlotta Valdes". Although the grave marker was fictional and set up specifically for the film, it was reportedly left to stand in the cemetery for a number of years after filming.

• A dining car named Mission Dolores was part of the train The City of San Francisco, jointly operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the Union Pacific Railroad between Chicago and Oakland, California until 1971.

[edit] References

1. ^ Leffingwell, p. 149
2. ^ Young, p. 117
3. ^ Yenne, p. 64
4. ^ Englehardt, p. 38
5. ^ Young, p. 117
6. ^ Cleary
7. ^ Cleary
8. ^ Johnson, p. 129
9. ^ Johnson, p. 130

• Milliken, Randall (1995). A Time of Little Choice: The Disintegration of Tribal Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area 1769-1910. Ballena Press Publication, Menlo Park, CA. ISBN 0-87919-132-5. 
• Schafer, Mike and Joe Welsh (1997). Streamliners: History of a Railroad Icon. MBI Publishing Co., St. Paul, MN. ISBN 0-7603-1371-7. 
• Yenne, Bill (2004). The Missions of California. Thunder Bay Press, San Diego, CA. ISBN 1-59223-319-8. 
• Engelhardt, O. F. M. (1924). San Francisco or Mission Dolores. Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, IL. 
• Johnson, Paul C. (Supervising Editor) (1964). The California Missions. Lane Book Company, Menlo Park, CA. Library of Congress 64-22823. 
• Cleary, Brother Guire. "Mission Dolores Links San Francisco with its 18th Century Roots - Founded as La Mission San Francisco De Asis by Franciscans, it survived earthquake and fire", Catholic San Francisco, January 31, 2003. Accessed March 23, 2007.
• Young, Stanley and Melba Levick (1988). The Missions of California. Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, CA. ISBN 0-8118-3694-0. 

[edit] See also

• Spanish missions in California
• Mission San Rafael Arcángel
• San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia
• USNS Mission Dolores (AO-115) — a Mission Buenaventura Class fleet oiler built during World War II.
• USNS Mission San Francisco (AO-123) — a Mission Buenaventura Class fleet oiler built during World War II.
• 49-Mile Scenic Drive

[edit] Transportation information

The Mission Dolores Basilica is located at the intersection of 16th and Dolores Street. Mission Dolores Basilica is easily accessible by public transit. The 22 Fillmore electric bus stops at the front door; the J-Church streetcar stops one block to the west at Church Street. The 16th and Mission BART station is 3 blocks to the east at Mission Street.

[edit] Mass hours

• Monday - Saturday 7:30 am Old Mission & 9:00 am Basilica
• Saturday/Sábado Vigil (English) 5:00 pm Old Mission
• Sunday (English ) 8:00 am Basilica 10:00 am Basilica
• Domingo (Español) 12:00 mediodia Basilica

Holy Days / Dias de Percepto

• English 7:30 am Old Mission 9:00 am Basilica
• Bilingual / Bilingue 7:00 pm Old Mission

Devotions/Holy Hour / Devociones/Hora Santa

• Fridays / Viernes 6:00 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Exposicion del Santisimo Sacramento

Reconciliations/Confessions / Reconcilicion /Confesiones

• Saturday or by appointment / Sabado o por cita 4:00 - 5:00 pm Basilica

[edit] External links

• Mission Dolores Basilica
• The Archdiocese of San Francisco
• Mission Dolores via The Archdiocese of San Francisco
• Elevation & Site Layout sketches of the Mission proper
• Catholic San Francisco - History of Mission Dolores
• San Francisco Public Library - Photographs of Mission Dolores
• Map of Mission Dolores and nearby water sources (from ShapingSF.org)

A view of "Mission Dolores" around the turn of the 20th century. Note the presence of the two-story wooden addition.

Mission San Francisco de Asís prior to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The wooden addition has been removed and a portion of the brick Gothic Revival church is visible at right.