Everything about Mission Dolores totally explained
Mission San Francisco de Asís is the oldest surviving structure in
San Francisco and the sixth religious settlement established as part of the
California chain of missions. The Mission was founded on
June 29 1776 by Lieutenant
José Joaquin Moraga and Father Francisco Palóu (a companion of Father Junipero Serra), both members of the
de Anza Expedition, which had been charged with bringing Spanish settlers to Alta (upper) California.
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 Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (
Our Lady of Dolores Creek), or "Stream of Our Lady 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 [fromthe 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 fragrant 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.
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. 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 San Francisco de Asís:
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.
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 the Mission.
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. 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. 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 San Francisco de Asís cemetery, which adjoins the property on the south side, was originally much larger than its present boundaries, running west almost to Church Street and north into what is today 16th Street. It was reduced in various stages, starting with the extension of 16th Street through the former Mission grounds in 1889, and later by the construction of the Mission Dolores Basilica Center and the Chancery Building of the
Archdiocese of San Francisco in the 1950s. Some remains were reburied on-site in a mass grave, while others were relocated to various Bay Area cemeteries. Today, most of the former cemetery grounds are covered by a paved playground behind the Mission Dolores School. The cemetery that currently remains underwent a careful restoration in the mid-1990s. 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 Arturo Albano. The current Curator of Mission Dolores is Andrew A. Galvan.
Other historic designations
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.
It is referenced in the song "San Francisco" by Vanessa Carlton
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 33 Ashbury/Stanyan bus stops at Church and 18th Street (two blocks away), and 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.
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 / Bilingüe 7:00 pm Old Mission
Devotions/Holy Hour / Devociones/Hora Santa
Fridays / Viernes 6:00 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Exposición del Santísimo Sacramento
Reconciliations/Confessions / Reconcilición/Confesiones
Saturday or by appointment / Sábado o por cita 4:00 - 5:00 pm Basilica
Staff
Clergy
Pastor- Rev. Arturo L. Albano
Parochial Vicar- Rev. Ulysses D'Aquila
In Residence- Rev. Charles Onubogu
Deacon- Vicente Cervantes
Pastoral Directors
Music & Liturgy- Jerome Lenk
Hispanic Liturgy- Juan Pedro Gaffney R.
Religious Education- Maria Rosales Uribe
School Principal- Andreina Gualco
Old Mission Curator- Andrew Galvan
Parish Support Staff
Pastoral Council Chair - Pat Buley
Parish Secretary- Denise Kahn-Decena
School Secretary- Rita Franchi
Religious Education Assistant- Andres Uribe
Assistant to the Curator- Gustavo Torres
Receptionist- Julio Barrientos
Further Information
Get more info on 'Mission Dolores'.
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