U. S. Mission Trail / The Mission Trail Today - The Spanish Missions in California

This site is owned, designed, and operated by Kenneth A. Larson who has over a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and Theme Parks using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design. Ken also has experience in other areas of Design.

Select photographs of my many visits to The Missions of the United States South and Southwest built by Spain and Mexico between 1565 and 1823.
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2008 - 2013.

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#2, San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

Founded June 3, 1770
by Father Junipero Serra.
Carmel.

Personal Observations

Long ago, I saw this mission from the outside after closing. We visited again the day after Thanksgiving (11-28-03) and to our disappointment, it was closed for the Holidays. I did the best to photograph the mission form the outside. We visited again just a few months later on February 8, 2004. This time we attended a mass and were able to explore the site more thoroughly. Like so many other missions, it is still an active parish.

As a Set Designer, one thing I remember

most, was the quadrangle where every door was of a different design.

I hope to add photos from our recent visit soon and hope to return again in the fall.

History

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo was founded on June 3, 1770 by Father Junipero Serra. It was the second mission established in Alto California. Located on the Monterey Peninsula, a short distance from the City of Monterey, itself, filled with historic sites.

San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the California Missions. It served as Father Serra's headquarters and is where he was buried upon his death in 1784. Originally founded in Monterey, after a year the mission was moved to the Carmel Valley which was closer to the native population and better for agriculture.

The church at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo took four years to construct and was completed in 1797. It is one of only three stone mission churches in California. Other stone churches are at Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Santa Barbara. The church is unusual in that the walls taper inward forming a catenary arch rather than flat as was usual. The Moorish influenced bell tower has an outside stairway.

With secularization, all the mission lands were sold off except the church site. The stone church was abandoned, collapsed in 1851, and stood roofless for 30 years. When a new roof was installed in 1884, the pitch was wrong and was not corrected until 1930. The mission became a parish church in 1933 and has been in the process of being restored since.

Address and Directions

Rio Road
Carmel, California 93923

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo is located at the south end of the small community with the long name, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Exit Highway 1 at Rio Road heading west. After about one mile, the mission is on the left. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo is a few miles south of the historic city of Monterey.

Photography Gallery

Church

Back of church. 11-28-03.

Bell tower. 11-28-03.

Church. 11-28-03.

Through the garden gate. 11-28-03.

Church front, door, and window. 11-28-03.

Window and bells. 11-28-03.

Cross. 11-28-03.

Door. 11-28-03.

Church window. 11-28-03.

Bells. 11-28-03.

Chaple interior. 11-28-03.

Bell Towers. 11-28-03.

Grounds

Garden. 11-28-03.

Cemetery

Exhibits

Quadrangle

Other Buildings

Chaple exterior. 11-28-03.

Father Serra

gallery links here. On it's way is a new photo gallery.

Sources:

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Note:This is not the official site for any of the places shown in US Mission Trail. US Mission Trail is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, and exhibits are subject to change without notice.

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