Mission San Francisco Solano
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Mission San Francisco Solano circa 1910. |
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| Location | Sonoma, California |
|---|---|
| Name as Founded | La Misíon de San Francisco Solano de Sonoma [1] |
| Translation | The Mission of Saint Francis Solano of Sonoma |
| Namesake | Saint Francis Solanus |
| Founding Date | July 4, 1823 [2] |
| Founding Priest(s) | Father José Altimira |
| Founding Order | Twenty-First |
| Military District | Fourth |
| Native Tribe(s) Spanish Name(s) |
Suisunes |
| Owner | State of California |
| Current Use | Museum |
| California Historical Landmark | #3 |
| Web Site | http://www.napanet.net/~sshpa/mission.htm |
Mission San Francisco Solano was founded on July 4, 1823 and named for a missionary to the Indians of Peru born in Montilla, Spain, known as the "Wonder Worker of the New World." Originally planned as an asistencia ("sub-mission") to Mission San Rafael Arcángel, the northernmost Alta California mission. Chief Sem-Yeto of the Suisunes tribe was baptized at the Mission and given the Christian name of Francisco Solano shortly after its founding. During the years the Mission was active, General Mariano Vallejo resided in town. He was tasked with monitoring the activities of the Russians at their nearby settlement of Fort Ross (krepost' rus'), and with establishing peaceful relations with the Native Americans of the region.[3] Vallejo helped to build the town of Sonoma and even paid for the rebuilding of the small Mission chapel. There were always soldiers and settlers in the town of Sonoma during the Mexican period. The Franciscan Fathers grew grapes and produced sacramental wine from the first vineyard in the Sonoma Valley, which was first planted in 1825.
By 1839, the Mission was in ruins and unoccupied. Through the years the Mission was used as a blacksmith's shop and later as a saloon. It was also used as a barn and a storeroom. In 1846, across from the Mission a group of American settlers raised a flag and claimed the land for the California Republic. The settlers took over the town and put Mariano Vallejo in prison in what has come to be known as the "Bear Flag Revolt". During this time, no one wanted the Mission; it was sold to a man who used the chapel entrance as a saloon and stored his liquor and hay in the chapel. The Mission eventually became a parish church serving the Pueblo and Sonoma Valley until it was sold to a private interest in 1881.
In 1903, the Historic Landmark League bought the remains of Mission San Francisco Solano. Restoration was completed in 1913, and today the Mission is part of the Sonoma State Historic Park. It is open to visitors and has a small museum located in the padres' quarters. The restored chapel burned in 1970.
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[edit] Other historic designations
- National Register of Historic Places #NPS-75000489 — Sonoma Plaza District
- California Historical Landmark — San Francisco Solano Mission Vineyard
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Leffingwell, Randy (2005). California Missions and Presidios: The History & Beauty of the Spanish Missions. Voyageur Press, Inc., Stillwater, MN. ISBN 0-89658-492-5.
- Nordlander, David J. (1994). For God & Tsar: A Brief History of Russian America 1741–1867. Alaska Natural History Association, Anchorage, AK. ISBN 0-930931-15-7.
- Smilie, Robert A. (1975). The Sonoma Mission, San Francisco Solano de Sonoma: The Founding, Ruin and Restoration of California's 21st Mission. Valley Publishers, Fresno, CA. ISBN 0-913548-24-3.
- Yenne, Bill (2004). The Missions of California. Thunder Bay Press, San Diego, CA. ISBN 1-59223-319-8.
[edit] See also
- Spanish missions in California
- Mission San Rafael Arcángel
- El Presidio de Sonoma
- USNS Mission Solano (AO-135) — a Mission Buenaventura Class fleet oiler built during World War II.
