Mission Trail Today - The California Missions
#21, San Francisco Solano
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This site is owned, designed, and operated by Mission enthusiast Kenneth A. Larson who has over a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and other areas of environmental design using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design.
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All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003 - 2008.
Select photographs of my many visits to The California Missions built by Spain and Mexico between 1769 and 1823.
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#21, San Francisco Solano.
Founded July 4, 1823
by Father Jose Altimira.
Sonoma.
Personal Observations
I was very much looking forward to seeing Mission San Francisco Solano in its restored state and without construction equipment in front. As I walked up to the mission and saw the front of the church, I said to my wife with disappointment, "They are re-roofing the mission." We immediately started planning our next visit. We plan to revisit this and several other missions, but for now, we have completed our Mission Trail Today.
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Photo-Art
Mission Art & Photo-Art
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Mission San Francisco Solano was the last mission founded and the last link in the chain that extended to the southern tip of South America. It was the only mission built by Mexico and the only mission founded prior to receiving church authority. Because if was so short lived, it is not as large and decorated as most fo the other missions, yet today is superior to some. On the positive side, the mission is part of a State Historic Park that included several buildings significant in California history. The Bear Flag was first flown here and it could be argued that modern American-California began here. Other historically significant architecture can be found in Sonoma and your admission to the Historical Park includes admission to another adobe in Petaluma. Sonoma is a tourist destination in the heart of the Wine Country. It is unfortunate that many people are looking for wine as they pass, scarcely noticing, significant pieces of California history all around them. On the Memorial Day weekend that we visited, we were probably the only adults not looking for a winery.
History
Mission San Francisco Solano, built six years after San Rafael Arcángel, was the only mission built by Mexico after its independence. It was also the only mission founded without the prior approval of the Church. Mission San Francisco Solano was built to strengthen Mexico's hold on the territory as Russian development was moving south. Built in 1823, it closed eleven years later in 1834.
The present chapel was built in 1840, and has been restored many times. The Landmarks League purchased the chapel in 1903. It suffered further damage during the 1906 earthquake. In 1926, it was purchased by William Randolph Hearst, who restored it in 1944, and then donated it to the state.
Address and Directions
114 East Spain Street
Sonoma, CA 95476
between Santa Rosa and Napa on State Highway 12
Open 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Photography Gallery
Front. June 1971
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
Photo date: 5-29-04.
gallery links here
Support this Web Site
This web site started because of my love for the Spanish Missions in the United States. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. My wife sells Gold Canyon products at www.valleygirlcandles.com and I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ...
Or, donations can be mailed to the address on the contact page.
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This site began as a light hearted alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.
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Copyright © 2003 - 2009, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved.
Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website.
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This page last updated: Thursday, 17-Sep-2009 22:49:43 CDT
