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General InformationFounded: October 9, 1791 - The 13th California Mission Also Called: Soledad Mission Current Status: This is a restored mission site. The mission church is considered a chapel of Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church in the town of Soledad. Summary: Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was founded on October 9, 1791. Mission Soledad was abandoned for almost 100 years, then carefully restored between 1954–1962. The simple chapel and padre’s quarters, as well as the ruins of the mission’s adobe walls, accurately depict what was one of the most isolated of the California missions.
The mission is located south of the town of Soledad easily reached off US 101. Take the Arroyo Seco Exit, travel on Arroyo Seco for about one (1) mile and then turn right on Fort Romie Road. The mission entrance will be on the left. Approaching the Soledad MissionWebsite(s)Phone(s)831-678-2586 - Mission Office Fees, Hours, Tours and Church ServicesPlease contact the mission directly by telephone or by visiting the mission website for the most current information. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is best to check for current information. Weddings and Other Special ServicesWeddings, Baptisms and other special services are held at Our Lady of Solitude Parish Church in the town of Soledad. Contact the Church office directly by telephone at 831-678-2731 or by visiting the church website. Use of the Mission Chapel for services has to be discussed with the Parish Church. Special EventsSpecial events held periodically include music concerts, arts and crafts shows, and auctions. These events raise funds to support the mission. Visit the mission website for further information. Unique Attractions
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1835 1859 Our Lady of Solitude Indians Joining MissionFew natives lived in the vicinity of this mission so Indians were recruited from many tribes including the Chalon, Esselen, Yokuts, and Salinan. Mission SiteThirty (30) miles southeast of Monterey in the Salinas River Valley at a site thought to have been an Esselen village known by the natives as Chuttusgelis. Mission LayoutA courtyard-centered quadrangle without buildings. Neophyte housing was located to the south and the cemetery to the east. Water SourceSalinas River (too low for irrigation) was used for livestock needs. The Arroyo Seco brought seasonal waters. A fifteen (15) mile long zanja or aqueduct dug by neophytes (rediscovered by archaeologists from CSU Monterey Bay in 2007) eventually irrigated some 20,000 acres in the Llano del Rey or lands around the mission. PopulationThe highest recorded population was 687 in 1804. LivestockThe Soledad mission had a livestock herd of 6,000 cattle and 4,950 sheep in 1834, the last year for which records were maintained. The number of sheep exceeded 9,000 during the mission's peak years. Mission Soledad Cattle BrandAgricultural OutputAgricultural production at Soledad ranked it in the bottom third of the mission chain. Over the years 1793-1834, Soledad harvested 119,492 bushels of wheat, barley, corn, beans, and peas. Its most important product was wheat. Mission ChurchThe simple Soledad chapel was built in 1832 and restored in 1954. The church was originally located at the east end of the padre's quarters until about 1824 when it was destroyed in one of the recurring floods that plagued this "hard luck" mission. Mission BellsThe original mission bell cast in Mexico City in 1794, used to hang on a wooden beam to the left of the church entrance. For security purposes, the original has been moved inside. Mission Art and ArtifactsBoth the exterior and interior of the chapel are quite simple. Colorfully painted reredos, stenciled wall decorations, and original oil paintings of the Stations of the Cross adorn the sanctuary. There is also an original painting of Our Lady of Refuge in the sanctuary. Interesting Facts
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Historical GalleryMission Soledad, a small remote mission, deteriorated rapidly after it was secularized in 1835. For almost a century, Mission Soledad's principal attractions were the picturesque ruins on the site. Soledad's simple chapel (originally built in 1832) was restored by the Daughters of the Golden West in 1954. The convento wing (present day museum) was added in 1965. This Historical Image Gallery contains eight (8) drawings and paintings drawn from this rich heritage.
Contemporary GalleryThe Contemporary Image Gallery contains eight (8) photographs depicting the restored mission and its beautiful heritage.
Architectural GalleryMission Soledad was abandoned for almost 100 years. There are no Historic American Buildings Survey drawings of this mission. Why was Mission Soledad chosen?The Soledad Mission location was chosen because it provided a break on the 100-mile journey between San Antonio de Padua to the south and Carmel to the north.
What happened to Soledad Mission?Most of Mission Soledad was destroyed by three large floods in 1824, 1828, and 1832 which irreparably damaged the buildings. As Mission Soledad was secularized and neglected the buildings were further destroyed. In 1845, interim Governor Pio Pico sold the mission to Feliciano Soberanes for eight hundred dollars.
What did the Indians do at Mission Soledad?The Indian tribes at the mission were the Chalon, Esselen,Yokuts, and the Salinan. Water was brought from the Salinas and Arroyo Seco Rivers through a five-mile system of cement aqueducts, which was built by the Salinan Indians. The mission people grew wheat, barley, corn, beans, and peas.
Who found the Soledad Mission?Founded in 1791 by Father Fermin Lasuen, Mission Soledad is the thirteenth mission to be founded in California. It is nestled in the heart of the wine country known as the Santa Lucia Highlands and there are three wineries within two miles of the mission.
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