Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Facts

Location:

36641 Fort Romie Rd, Soledad, CA 93960

Date founded:

October 9, 1791

Patron saint:

Our Lady of Solitude.

Founder: 

Fr. Fermín Francisco de Lasuén.

Native peoples:

Chalon, Esselen, Yokuts and Salinan.

Features:

Reconstructed chapel and convento; archaeological remains of adobe walls of quadrangle.

Interior of the chapel at Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.
Interior of the chapel at Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. Damian Bacich/CaliforniaFrontier.net

Current status:

Roman Catholic Parish.

Historical landmark number:

California Historical Landmark no. 233

Interesting facts:

Mission La Soledad is the final resting place of the only Spanish governor buried in Alta California, José Joaquín de Arrillaga.

Thirty different priests served at Soledad in a period of forty years.

The grave of Gov. José Joaquín de Arrillaga at Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. Damian Bacich/CaliforniaFrontier.net

Important events:

  • February 1802: Respiratory epidemic kills several people at the mission.
  • July 24, 1814: Governor José Joaquín Arrillaga dies and is buried at the mission.
  • 1824, 1828 and 1832: Floods destroy the mission church and it is rebuilt.
  • 1954: After having completely fallen down, the mission church is rebuilt by Harry Downey.

Website: 

www.missionsoledad.com

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Photo Gallery

Paintings on display in the Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Museum.
Paintings on display in the Mission museum.
View from the rear of Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.
View from the rear of the Mission.
Altar in the Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad chapel.
The altar in the Mission chapel.
Images of Fr. Serra, Old Gabriel and Fr. Lasuén in the Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad museum.
Fr. Serra, Old Gabriel and Fr. Lasuén in the museum.
Front entrance to Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.
Front entrance to the Mission.
Statues on the Mission front porch.
Statues on the Mission porch.
Holy water font in the Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad chapel
Holy water font in the Mission chapel.
Image of Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners.
Image of Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners.
Friar's cassock on display in the Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad museum.
Friar’s cassock on display in the museum.
Ex votos at Mission Nuestra Señora de La Soledad.
Healings recorded in the Mission chapel.
Rear view of the Mission showing pieces of the old foundation.