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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#20, San Rafael Arcángel

Founded December 14, 1817
by Father Vicente de Sarria.
San Rafael.

Personal Observations

My wife and I visited Mission San Rafael Arcángel on February 7, 2004. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and the mission plaza was filled with people going about their activities. Sadly, little remains of the original mission, just a few relics in the Gift Shop/Museum and a few in the reproduction Mission Church. However, the Mission is still a vital and active part of the community. A large new church sits a few feet from the reproduction Mission Church. On this very busy Saturday, there was a wedding just getting started in the large church and a funeral in the smaller Mission Church. The Saturday Catechism classes must have just let out and people were streaming through the plaza in front of the small Mission Church. There were adults sitting and children playing and even a few tourists had come to view the Mission. While Mission San Rafael Arcángel may not be as well restored as most of the other missions, it is still a vital part of its Parish and is still serving its mission to bring the word of God to the people.

Photo-Art pending Mission Art & Photo-Art

History

San Rafael Arcángel was the last mission built by Spain in California. There were four priests involved with its founding. Mission San Francisco Solano, built six years later, was the only mission built by Mexico after its independence from Spain.

Mission San Rafael was built to care for sick Indians from Mission San Francisco, in an area called Nanaguanui. Named after Saint Rafael, the patron saint of good health. Prior to achieving full mission status, this site was used as a hospital for Indians who were suffering from the damp climate and European-introduced diseases. The noticeably warmer San Rafael location was named after the archangel whose name means "healing power of God." Full mission status was granted in 1822. It was in that same year that funding for the Missions was cut off.

The Mission was abandoned soon after its founding.

A replica Mission was built in 1949, but it does not closely resemble the original.

Address and Directions

1104 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, 94901.
415 454-8141

From US-101: Exit from US-101 at Central San Rafael. Turn left onto 5th Street. The mission is at 5th and A Street.

Photography Gallery

Front of church. This is a reproduction of the original mission church. Photo date: 2-7-04.

Mission Church interior. Photo date: 12-3-04.

Front of Church. Photo date: 2-7-04.

Bell and entrance. Photo date: 2-7-04.

Front of mission shurch with new church beyond. Photo date: 12-3-04.

Museum and Gift Shop. Photo date: 12-3-04.

Bells. Photo date: 12-3-04.

Front of Church. Photo date: 12-3-04.

These windows are believed to be copied from Carmel when the mission was restored. Photo date: 12-3-04.

Cross. Photo date: 12-3-04.

Statue. Photo date: 12-3-04.

Bell and Sign with cross beyond. South side of church to right. Photo date: 2-7-04.

Statue. Photo date: 2-7-04.

Church interior. The cycle of life was played out the day we visited. While a funeral took place in the mission church, a wedding was in progress in the newer church. Photo date: 2-7-04.

The Mission Museum. Photo date: 2-7-04.

The new church. Photo date: 2-7-04.

New Church. Photo date: 12-3-04.

The Mission Church and the new church from the back (north).

The mission is now in the heart of the City of San Rafael. Photo date: 12-3-04. links here

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.

Support this Web Site This web site was created because of my love and respect for the California Missions. 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't been many this year. 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 ...
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