The Sonoma mission was established by the Spanish. The
Spanish established the Sonoma mission in the name of the king of Spain. As a mission it is
also in the name of God. God was an important thing to these people. The
Spanish came from a catholic background. As such the Missions were all set up and built by Catholic masons, builders or carpenters, and padres, Spanish fathers or heads of the church. The Sonoma mission was founded by Father Jose Altimira. He
founded the mission July 4th, 1823. This mission was named after St. Francis
Solano. St. Francis Solano was a missionary to the Peruvian Indians. Sonoma was
the Twenty-first Mission that was founded.The mission was built by the Mexican authorities
as a barrier. This barrier was to stop Russia’s attempts to extend control to
the federal territory of Alta California.
During the years the Mission was active, General Mariano Vallejo, who the city of Vallejo was named after, lived in the town. He was tasked with monitoring the activities of Russia at their nearby
settlement of Fort Ross. Some of the Vallejo family’s belongings can still be
found at the mission.The mission is now at the corner of
Spain & First St.. This mission is no longer in use as it had been during
their establishment. This mission is only 20 miles north of current San
Francisco on State Highway 12. The mission
is now used as a museum. This museum is preserved and used to host student and
family field trips alike and has even upgraded to include such new aged offers as free WiFi internet, which in my mind at least beats watering my horse.
San Rafael:
I have learned many interesting things through my days of research on the San Rafael mission induced in the interesting things I've learned is the San Rafael mission's full name is. The Spanish as very religious people tended to dedicate their missions to saints and angels. The San Rafael name is known as the San Rafael Arcangel. Mission San
Rafael is the twentieth mission. It was founded December 14, 1817. However it
did not receive it's mission status until October 19, 1822. The person who
founded the San Rafael mission was Father Vicente de Sarria. He founded this
mission actually as more of a hospital than anything. This was because the bad
weather and series of diseases. The mission started as a hospital
to treat the sick Indians from Mission San Francisco de Asis. The mission is now back under owner ship of the catholic church and for nearly
200 years now, Saint Raphael Church and Mission San Rafael Archangel have served as
significant historical, cultural and spiritual centers in San Rafael community.
This mission is no longer for use as a hospital to native Americans however it
is still a community icon. This mission is still used as a church. It is also
used as a historical museum. As I have told you the San Rafael mission is
named the Arc Angel, the reason why is Archangel Rafael is the angel of bodily
healing and this mission name seemed fit for a mission that had a main use as a hospital.
San Francisco:
As we all know San Francisco is a very popular city now and second only to New York in its population. Well in its early mission years it was still actually an undiscovered beauty in fact San Francisco's mission is one of the few that has a name that doesn't involve its city name. The mission’s actual name the
Mission Dolores. The settlement was named for St. Francis of Assisi, the
founder of the Franciscan Order and this is why it is the San Francisco
mission. However the presence of a nearby creek named Arroyo de Nuestra Señora
de Los Dolores is why this mission is also commonly known as the mission
Dolores. Arroyo de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores means "Our Lady of
Sorrows Creek." This mission is the oldest standing building in
all of San Francisco. This mission in San Francisco is also known as the San
Francisco Asis. This was the sixth mission established. The founder of this
mission was Father Francisco Palou. The mission was used as a catholic church. Unfortunately not
everyone could make it there. The was often cold and damp weather on the
journey to these areas. This kept the Native Americans way from this place, and
it took almost a whole year before the first Native Americans were baptized
there.Today the mission Dolores of San Francisco is still put to great use. True to its origins, the Basilica Parish of
Mission Dolores reflects the incredible diversity and vibrancy of modern San
Francisco. The mission today is seen as a historical monument. Tours are given
of this monument. The mission is more of a museum than mission now.
