Editing Mission San Miguel Arcángel

{{Short description|18th-century Spanish mission in California}}
{{About|the Spanish mission in present-day California|the Spanish mission in present-day Baja California|Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox Missions|
  image=MissionSanMiguelArches.JPG|
  caption=San Miguel's various-sized arches are a noted feature of this mission|
  name=Mission San Miguel Arcángel|
  location=775 Mission Street<br />[[San Miguel, San Luis Obispo County, California]] 93451|
  originalname=''La Misión del Gloriosísimo Príncipe Arcángel, Señor San Miguel''&nbsp;<ref>Leffingwell, p. 91</ref>|
  translation=The Mission of the Very Glorious Archangel Prince, Sir Saint Michael|
  namesake=[[Michael (archangel)|Saint Michael the Archangel]]<ref name = "krell254"/>|
  nickname="Mission on the Highway"  ... &nbsp;<ref>Engelhardt</ref><br />"The Unretouched Mission"&nbsp;<ref>Ruscin, p. 129</ref>|
  founded=July 25, 1797&nbsp;<ref>Yenne, p. 140</ref>|
  foundedby=Father [[Fermín Lasuén]]&nbsp;<ref>Ruscin, p. 196</ref>|
  foundingorder=Sixteenth<ref name = "krell254"/>|
  militarydistrict=Third<ref>Forbes, p. 202</ref>|
  nativetribe=[[Salinan]]|
  placename=''Valica''&nbsp;<ref>Ruscin, p. 195</ref>|
  baptisms=2,471<ref name = "krell315"/>|
  marriages=764<ref name = "krell315"/>|
  burials=1,868<ref name="krell315">Krell, p. 315: as of December 31, 1832; information adapted from Engelhardt's ''Missions and Missionaries of California''.</ref>|
  secularized=1834<ref name = "krell254"/>|
  returned=1859<ref name="krell254">Krell, p. 254</ref>|
  owner=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey|Diocese of Monterey]]|
  currentuse=Parish Church |
  coordinates =  {{coord|35|44|41|N|120|41|53|W|type:landmark_region:UA-CA|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin=California#USA|
| built = 1821
| architecture = Spanish/California Mission Style
| area = {{convert|0.4|acre}}
| designation1 = NRHP
| designation1_date = July 14, 1971
| designation1_number = 71000191<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| designation2=NHL
| designation2_date = March 20, 2006<ref name=nhlsum>{{Cite web | title = Mission San Miguel Arcangel | work = National Historic Landmark Quicklinks | publisher = [[National Park Service]] | url = http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-2010942900&ResourceType=District | access-date = 20 March 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130109180037/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-2010942900&ResourceType=District | archive-date = 9 January 2013 }}</ref>
| designation3 = California
| designation3_number = [http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21484 #326]
| website=http://www.oldmissionsanmiguel.org/
}}
'''Mission San Miguel Arcángel''' is a [[Spanish missions in California|Spanish mission]] in [[San Miguel, California]]. It was established on July 25, 1797, by the [[Franciscan]] order, on a site chosen specifically due to the large number of [[Salinan Indians]] that inhabited the area, whom the Spanish priests wanted to evangelize.

The mission remains in use as a parish church of the [[Diocese of Monterey]]. After being closed to the public for six years due to the [[2003 San Simeon earthquake]], the church reopened on September 29, 2009. Inside the church are murals designed by [[Esteban Munras]].<ref name = nrhpinv>{{Cite web | last = Grimes | first = Theresa | title = Mission San Miguel Arcángel | work = National Register of Historic Places – Inventory Nomination Form| publisher = [[National Park Service]] | date = May 19, 2005 | url = {{NHLS url|id=71000191}}| format = pdf | access-date = 22 May 2012}}</ref>

The mission was put on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1971<ref name = nris/> and was named to a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 2006.<ref name = nhlsum/>  Of California's missions, it is one that retains more than most of its layout and buildings, including a portion of its neophyte village.<ref name=nrhpinv/>

==History==
[[File:General view of Mission San Miguel Arcangel from the southeast, ca.1904 (CHS-2245).jpg|thumb|left|Mission San Miguel Arcángel around 1906]]
Father [[Fermín Lasuén]] and Father [[Buenaventura Sitjar]] 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.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.missionsanmiguel.org/about|title=History|publisher=Mission San Miguel|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029171420/http://www.missionsanmiguel.org/about|archive-date=29 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
A temporary wooden church was built with living quarters. The site was chosen as it was close to a Salinan Indian village called Vahca.  In 1798 the small chapel was replaced. From 1816 to 1818 a new church was constructed with a tile roof and courtyard.

Mission San Miguel Arcángel land was sold off after the [[Mexican secularization act of 1833]]. The William Reed family lived in the buildings until 1848, when they were murdered by a band of thieves. The killers were tracked down by a posse in the foothills of Santa Barbara. Two thieves died in the ensuing battle, and the other three were tried and executed by firing squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missionsanmiguel.com/history/reedfamily.html|title=The Murders in the Old Mission|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Upon secularization, the mission began to decay. Padre Abella, the last Franciscan at San Miguel, died in July, 1841.<ref name="timeline">{{cite web|url=http://www.missionsanmiguel.com/history/timeline.html|title=Mission San Miguel Arcangel Historical Time Line|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref>

In 1859 the U.S. government returned the mission to the [[Catholic Church]]. But with the buildings in poor condition, no priests were assigned to the mission; buildings were rented to some small businesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factcards.califa.org/mis/sanmiguelarcangel.html|title=California Missions|access-date=26 August 2016}}</ref> In 1878 the Church reactivated the mission, and Rev. Philip Farrelly took up residence as First Pastor of Mission San Miguel. In 1928 the mission was returned to the Franciscan Padres, the same group who had founded the mission in 1797.<ref name="timeline"/>

==Features==
[[File:Mission San Miguel, California - Interior.jpg|thumb|left|The interior of Mission San Miguel Arcángel is one of the best preserved of all the missions of California. It features murals executed by noted artist [[Esteban Munrás]] in the 1820s.]]
* The Mission Arcade, a series of 12 arches, is original. The variety of shapes and sizes was planned and the Mission was known for this arcade.<ref name="Brochure">{{cite web|title=Mission San Miguel Arcàngel: Home of Indigenous Salinan Art|url=https://home.nps.gov/articles/000/mission-san-miguel-arc%C3%A0ngel-ca.htm|website=NPS.gov|publisher=[[National Park Service]], [[United States Department of the Interior]]}}</ref> 
* The first chapel on the site was replaced within a year of its construction by a larger adobe chapel, which burned in the 1806 fire.<ref name="Brochure"/>
* The current mission church was built between 1816 and 1818. It is {{convert|144|ft|m}} long, {{convert|27|ft|m}} wide, and {{convert|40|ft|m}} high.<ref name="Brochure"/>
* The cemetery adjacent to the church holds the remains of 2,249 Native Americans listed in the Mission's burial records.<ref name="Brochure"/>
* The painted walls inside the church are the original artwork by artist Esteban Munras and other [[Salinan]] artists.<ref name="Brochure"/>

==Mission bells==
Bells were vitally important to daily life at any mission. The bells were rung at mealtimes, to call the Mission residents to work and to religious services, during births and funerals, to signal the approach of a ship or returning missionary, and at other times; novices were instructed in the intricate rituals associated with the ringing the mission bells.

==Associated structures==
The [[Rios-Caledonia Adobe]] was built in 1835 just south of the San Miguel Mission as a home for the overseer of Mission lands.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Grimm|first1=Michele|last2=Grimm|first2=Tom|date=1986-12-21|title=On a Holiday Mission to San Miguel|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-21-tr-3911-story.html|access-date=2021-03-10|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> This historic site is well preserved with the original Inn and Stagecoach stop now a museum and small gift shop. A building was added in 1930 that is now a unique history research library.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-04-28|title=May 1 marks grand opening of Rios-Caledonia Research Library|url=https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/may-1-marks-grand-opening-of-rios-caledonia-research-library/53475/|access-date=2021-03-10|work=Paso Robles Daily News|language=en-US}}</ref> The grounds are maintained by San Luis Obispo County Parks with picnic sites and restrooms available.<ref name="website">{{cite web|title=Historic Rios-Caledonia Adobe|url=https://www.historic-rios-caledonia.org/museum-highlights |publisher=The Historic Rios-Caledonia Adobe website| access-date=March 10, 2021}}</ref>

The Historic Rios-Caledonia Adobe is a California Historical Landmark (#936) and is listed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places (#71000190).<ref name=CHL2>{{cite ohp|936|Rios-Caledonia Adobe|2012-10-14}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="250px" heights="220px">
File:MissionSanMiguelPlaza2008.JPG|{{center|Mission plaza}}
File:Ojo.jpg|{{center|Ojo de Dios, above altar}}
File:Belltower at San Miguel Arcangel.jpg|{{center|Adobe wall and bell tower at Mission San Miguel Arcangel}}
File:Fountain at Mission San Miguel.jpg|{{center|Fountain in plaza}}
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Spanish missions in California]]
* [[List of Spanish missions in California]]
* [[USNS Mission San Miguel (AO-129)|USNS ''Mission San Miguel'' (AO-129)]] – a [[USNS Mission Buenaventura (AO‑111)|''Buenaventura'']] Class [[Oiler (ship)|fleet oiler]] built during [[World War II]].
* [[Ygnacio Coronel]] (1795–1862). In 1836, Coronel was appointed commissioner of the secularized Mission.
* [[List of National Historic Landmarks in California]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite news|author1=Coronado, Michael|author2=Ignatin, Heather |title=Plan would open Prop. 40 funds to missions|newspaper=The Orange County Register|date=June 5, 2006|url=http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1170529.php|access-date=2008-03-08|archive-date=2009-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308130229/http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1170529.php|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book|author1=Engelhardt, Zephyrin, O.F.M.|year=1931|title=San Miguel Arcángel: The Mission on the Highway|publisher=Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA|author-link=Zephyrin Engelhardt}}
* {{cite book|author1=Forbes, Alexander|year=1839|title=California: A History of Upper and Lower California|publisher=Smith, Elder and Co., Cornhill, London}}
* {{cite book|editor1=Jones, Terry L.|editor2=Klar, Kathryn A.|url=https://archive.org/details/californiaprehis0000unse|year=2007|title=California Prehistory: Colonization, Culture, and Complexity|publisher=Altimira Press|location=Landham, MD|isbn=978-0-7591-0872-1}}
* {{cite book|editor1=Krell, Dorothy|year=1979|title=The California Missions: A Pictorial History|publisher=Sunset Publishing Corporation, Menlo Park, CA|isbn=0-376-05172-8}}
* {{cite book|author1=Leffingwell, Randy|year=2005|title=California Missions and Presidios: The History & Beauty of the Spanish Missions|publisher=Voyageur Press, Inc., Stillwater, MN|isbn=0-89658-492-5}}
* {{cite book|editor1=Paddison, Joshua|year=1999|title=A World Transformed: Firsthand Accounts of California Before the Gold Rush|publisher=Heyday Books, Berkeley, CA|isbn=1-890771-13-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/worldtransformed00josh}}
* {{cite book|author1=Ruscin, Terry|year=1999|title=Mission Memoirs|publisher=Sunbelt Publications, San Diego, CA|isbn=0-932653-30-8}}
* {{cite book|author1=Yenne, Bill|year=2004|title=The Missions of California|publisher=Thunder Bay Press, San Diego, CA|isbn=1-59223-319-8}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mission San Miguel Arcángel}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050403222045/http://www.missionsanmiguel.org/ Official web site] – Includes an online tour of the mission interior and some exterior
* [http://www.californiafrontier.net/indian-life-at-the-california-missions-san-miguel/ Indian Life at Mission San Miguel Arcángel] via The California Frontier Project
* [http://www.californiafrontier.net/mission-site/ The founding of Mission San Miguel Arcángel] via The California Frontier Project
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051110142219/http://www.mymission.org/images/miguel.gif Elevation & Site Layout sketches of the Mission proper]
* [http://www.virtualguidebooks.com/CentralCalif/ElCaminoReal/UpperSalinasValley/SanMiguelClosed_S.php Virtual Reality Panorama "Mission San Miguel"]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/browse/azBrowse/Mission+San+Miguel+Arcangel Early photographs, sketches, land surveys of Mission San Miguel Arcángel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014072405/http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/browse/azBrowse/Mission+San+Miguel+Arcangel |date=2008-10-14 }}, via Calisphere, California Digital Library
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/ca/ Early History of the California Coast, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary]
* [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hh:@field(NUMBER+@band(CA0803)) Library of Congress, Americas Memory]
* {{cite web|last=Howser|first=Huell|title=California Missions (104)|url=http://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2000/12/08/california-missions-california-missions-104/|work=California Missions|publisher=[[Chapman University]] Huell Howser Archive|author-link=Huell Howser|date=December 8, 2000}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey in California}}
{{California Missions}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Salinas River}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mission San Miguel Arcangel}}
[[Category:Spanish missions in California|San Miguel Arcangel]]
[[Category:1797 in The Californias]]
[[Category:Churches in San Luis Obispo County, California]]
[[Category:History of San Luis Obispo County, California]]
[[Category:Museums in San Luis Obispo County, California]]
[[Category:1797 establishments in The Californias]]
[[Category:California Historical Landmarks]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in California]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in San Luis Obispo County, California]]
[[Category:Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey in California]]
[[Category:Religious museums in California]]
[[Category:Salinan people]]