Misión San Francisco de Asís

CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK #784

Mission San Francisco de Asis, established in 1776 as the sixth of the Spanish Missions in California, is the oldest surviving intact building in San Francisco. Named for St. Francis de Asis, it is commonly referred to as Mission Dolores a name derived from its proximity to the Arroyo de los Dolores (Creek of Sorrows) which had been named by a scouting party a few months previously.

The first mass was celebrated in a makeshift shelter by Father Francisco Palou on June 29, a few days before the Declaration of Independence was signed.

The mission building was completed in 1791.  It is the oldest intact Mission in California.  The Basilica located next to the original chapel was completed in 1918.  There is a diorama, created for the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island that depicts the area around 1791

Located adjacent to the chapel is one of only two cemeteries remaining in within the city limits of San Francisco, the other being the National Cemetery at the Presidio. The cemetery is the burial place of many native Americans and early settlers.

2002 Liam's Bear visits
Mission Dolores Cemetery
on his travels around the world

Greg and I visited in 2002 on our "California Trip" when we spent a few nights in the mission district.  Liam's bear traveled with us, before taking off for southeast Asia.





Just a few weeks ago, Nicholas and I visited before picking up Alexis at the
Boy's and Girl's club around the corner.  He had some great questions about the artifacts in the small museum and had fun posing with some of the tombstones!

 2019 Nicholas Checks it out

 The chapel, museum and cemetery are open 7 days a week from 9:30 to 4, with just a few holiday closures.  A donation is requested although little guys are free and us old ones are asked for less!

Be sure to pick up the brochure which will fill you in on more of the history of the mission.

• Misión San Francisco de Asís/Mission Dolores   3321 16th St. San Francisco
• Mission Dolores - Wikipedia
• More Pictures - main feature Nicholas hamming it up with the tombstones.