Desiree Leal Andrea Johnson April 9,2015 San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission Mission of San Carlos Borromeo Del Rio Carmelo more commonly know as the Carmel Mission is apart of California’s remarkable chain of 21 missions. This exceptional landmark shows 244 years of historical significance through its architecture, museums, and exhibitions that hold many scared preserved artifacts. San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission is the second mission that was founded by Father Junipero Serra on June 3, 1770. The mission was originally founded near Monterey Bay at the presidio, however it was then moved by the Carmel River. Father Junipero Serra decided to move the mission near the Carmel River in August of 1771 for multiple reasons. “Father …show more content…
Serra moved the mission to nearby Carmel because it offered better agricultural land and a safer political environment for the growing mission. In this new location, the mission thrived. It was closer to fresh water and the land more suitable for growing crops. Importantly, it was removed from the tense environment surrounding the presidio.” Even though the mission had moved it took several years for the mission to thrive and for the Padres to become less dependent of the Indians for supplies.
The crops soon flourished and the original buildings were being replaced and fixed. The Carmel Mission became Father Serra’s headquarter in which he overlooked the seven other missions at the time. It was also his home for the 14 years and his place of burial. At the age of 71 on August 28,1784 Father Serra passed away . Father Serra was buried underneath the main alter that stands today inside the Carmel Mission Basilica making this historical site so significant. After Serra’s death several Padres took over the mission and began restoring it by adding a church and structures to the quadrangle. The mission reached its highest times of prosperity as well as its lowest. The lowest being when the Mexican government was secularized in 1834 in which the mission fell into ruin. By this time “the mission’s adobe buildings returned to the earth, becoming piles of mud, while the church’s roof collapsed leaving the interior exposed to the elements.” The hope of restoration began in 1859 when the mission lands were retuned to the Catholic Church. In 1884 a brief restoration took place in order to save the historical site. …show more content…
However, it was not till 1931 when the new era of rebuilding began and Harry Downie was put in charge of restoring the mission in 1933. By 1961 the mission was fully resorted and designated as a Minor Basilica, almost 30 years after the new era of rebuilding started. Today the mission is completely restored with some buildings begin from the reconstruction that Harry Dowine did and some being more recent. The Carmel Mission has several different areas that are open to the public while on a self-guided tour. The missions layout The first thing one is greeted with is The Carmel Mission Museum Store this is the mission entrance. The Carmel Mission Museum Store is where a visitor has to pay in order to gain entrance and tour the mission. The store also has additional visitor information and souvenirs that can be purchased. Once one exits the store there is the front courtyard with information about the Junipero Serra Tercentennial Anniversary, phase one of the basilica restoration that is completed, and phase two of the museum restoration which is the mission next objective. In the courtyard there is also a statute of Junipero Serra within the gardens holding a cross and a couple feet away there is a fountain. Towards the right of the court yard the room in which one enters is The Sir Harry Dowine Museum. The Museum contains preserved mission altar artifacts, a small display of Indian artifacts, artifacts there were collected when the mission fell in ruin, and Harry Dowine’s personal workshop. In Harry Dowine’s personal workshop, which is separate from the display of artifacts, shows pictures before and during the restoration, tools used, and sketches of the mission. According to Celeste Pagliarulo, “He kept no records, a fact that makes the exact placement of dates difficult in many instances, but fortunately, his recollection of the reconstruction was adequate and accurate. Downie remembered where and how artifacts were unearthed and from whom objects were retrieved.” With this said some of pictures and artifacts in the museum do have descriptions and a year, but many of the pictures and artifacts in the room just have a description but no date. The museum also has a video playing named “Father Serra: The Man And His Mission” as well as an overview of the Carmel Mission. When coming out of The Sir Harry Dowine Museum the next large structure that stands is the remarkable Mission Basilica. The outer structure of the Basilica stands tall with a star glass window right about the large wooden doors.
When entering the Basilica one intakes the view of the catenary arches with light figures hanging down above them as well as beautiful Main Alter with the original paintings and statuary. The first thing at the door of the Basilica is a large black that holds the holy are. On the left there is a gothic style baptisrty The walls of the Basilica are white with several paintings hanging from them. On the right midway though the Basilica stand the Christ of King Shrine against the wall. On the left side midway though the Basilica the entryway to the chapel in which has the “Our Lady Bethlehem Shine”. The Our Lady Bethlehem Shrine is very important to the mission because, “thousands of pilgrims come every year and pray tour Lord through her intercessions.” At the foot of the alter the gave is Junipero Serra is placed, making this Basilica so significant. To the right of the alter there is a glass in casement with the relics of the coffin of blessed Fray Junipero Serra. “The pieces of the original casket which fallen to decay were set aside for safekeeping and now exhibited here in the reliquary.” The exit of the Basilica is on the left hand site at the very front near the alter. This exit then leads to the Mission’s Main
Courtyard. The Mission’s Main Courtyard has a quntangle layout that is completely enclosed by buildings When standing in the courtyard the outer left side of the mission’s Basilica is visible showing the large bell called “Ave Maria Purisima”. Also connected to the left side of the basilica is the bell tower staircase. In the middle of the courtyard there is a pond and on the other side of the pond there is a circle area that is called Serra Memorial. South of the pond stands Father Serra’s cross that was raised in 1771 when the Carmel Mission was first found. Although this is not the original cross that Farther Serra put, Hennery Downie “fashioned a replica of the large cross as drawn by Sykes from ten-by-ten in square hewn timbers and placed it on the exact spot of Serra’s cross”
The mission was established initially in 1690 as Mission San Francisco de los Tejas in East Texas. The mission was abandoned and moved to the West Bank of the San Antonio River and was called Mission San Francisco de la Espada in 1731. Its purpose was to serve the Coahuiltecan tribes and educate them in religion.
Neophytes, newly converted native americans to catholicism, lived in housing located to the south of the mission. The cemetery was to the east of the mission. The salinas river was not used for irrigation, but used for livestock needs. The arroyo seco, meaning dry stream in spanish, was a seasonal water source. The neophytes dug a 15 mile aqueduct to bring water to 20,000 acres land surrounding the mission. Mission soledad’s main business was agriculture. They had 6,000 cattle, 9,000 sheep and 32 horses. They used the cattle’s fat to make soap and candles. The mission used sheep's wool to weave blankets. The mission had a 20 acre vineyard for growing grapes to make wine and brandy. All of the products produced were traded and sold to settlers immigrants and visitors. Mission soledad did not produce as much as other missions because of their size and location. Mission soledad was built in a hot, windy, treeless valley. It was built there because it was a stop on the 100-mile between mission san carlos borromeo de carmelo and mission san antonio de
Mission San Juan Capistrano is a mission like no other. Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1775 and in 1776. Serra’s Chapel was the first permanent building. It was made out of Adobe brick instead of wood. Local native Americans helped build the mission and hang the bells. The people worked for 8 days then stopped. They buried the mission. The people came back the next year to dig out and rebuild the mission. A neat fact about San Juan Capistrano is the brand of their livestock is the letters C,A and P twisted together. San Juan Capistrano is called the jewel of the missions. This unique mission is not an ordinary, everyday mission.
Mission Santa Barbara was founded on December 4, 1786 by Father Fermin de Lasuen. Mission Santa Barbara was the 10th mission founded. Mission Santa Barbara was built near Siujtu,a Chumash village. Water was channeled from adam constructed in Pedragoso Creek, high above the mission. A two-mile long stone aqueduct carried water to a storage reservoir and settling tank constructed in 1806, and attributed to Indian mason Miguel Blanco of Baja, California. A second aqueduct carried drinking water to the mission,its fountains and lavanderia washing facilities. The original buildings were adobe,unpretentious, and a clay common to dry areas. The original purpose of the mission was christianazation of the Chumash Indians. Mission Santa Barbara is one of two missions who still run under Franciscan order.
Many countries have the pleasure of celebrating Independence Days. These historic holidays are filled with nationalistic celebrations and delicious traditional food. In Chile, the natives celebrate their break from Spain with Fiestas Patrias. In Mexico, the president begins the celebration by ringing a bell and reciting the “Grito de Dolores” and he ends his speech by saying “Viva Mexico” three times.
The mission of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is a non-profit organization/museum founded to celebrate and cultivate an appreciation for the enduring and evolving influence of Mexican and Mexican-American culture, with a specific focus upon the unique Mexican-American experience in Los Angeles and Southern California. The museum itself is near where Los Angeles was founded in 1871 and includes a 2.2 anchor campus that includes two historic and renovated buildings (Vickrey Brunswig Building and Plaza House). All surrounded by beautiful public gardens. La Plaza is also located near the heart of Los Angeles surrounded by other ethnic sites like Little Tokyo. (However after visiting one can 't help to realize the homeless problem in the Los Angeles area, and realizing some are even Chicano.)
During the early 1500s- mid 1800s, missions were the original destination by which the Spanish taught both Spanish and Catholicism lifestyle to the Native Americans/Indians. There are 21 missions scattered all over California. Mission San Jose is the fourteenth mission created in Alta California. It is a Spanish mission located in Fremont, California and established in the late 1700s by Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen. The mission is the label of the Mission San Jose district of Fremont, which was a free town admitted into the city when it was assimilated in 1957. The purpose of creating this mission was to secure Spain’s claim to this land and teach the native people Christianity and the Spanish way of life. Today, Mission San Jose serves
"History of Pilsen and Little Village." San Jose Obrero Mission. Web. 24 Nov. 2011. .
The mission I picked is the very first mission. It has a long name. Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala. It is located in San Diego California. Blessed Father Junipero Serra founded it. It was first made on July 16, 1769. Padre Serra liked the site because it was near the San Diego River.
After walking inside and trying to first experience, the church, and all its beauty and ornateness, I began examining the floor plan and elevations of the cathedral. Grace Cathedral was build in a gothic style, which it represents in its architecture inside and out. There were three huge rose windows. One at the very top of the main entrance and one on either end of the transept. There wer...
La Virgen is known for being a powerful miracle worker. For example, NASA scientist have offered no explanation on how the image of the Guadalupe imprinted on the cloak has no brush strokes, or sketch marks, or how for the past 478 years it has maintained high quality- preservation without deteriorating (Infallible Catholic). These unique and inexplicable facts about the Guadalupe adds to why she is venerated and worshiped by thousands of Latinos around the world. The basilica also featured many people praying, singing, and doing traditional dances which were all awe inspiring and spiritual to watch. The most important piece of souvenir that I brought from the Basilica would be a red handmade bracelet of la virgen which I cherish and embrace it with me wherever I go.
San Francisco de los Tejas is another one of the first missions. It was the first mission built in East Texas. It was called Tejas because they had met Hasinai people along the Colorado River. The word Tejas means "friend". The Tejas mission was built after the Spanish found out about La Salle's fort. Tejas was built out of logs, unlike many of the missions. This was probably so because it was built in the Piney Woods or Post Oak Belt subregion. Trees in these subregions are plentiful. Tejas had been intended for the Caddo tribe. The Caddo were the most advanced tribe and didn't need the food, protection, or shelter the priests offered. Without the Caddo's support the mission was failing greatly. The Spanish government decided to stop funding money for the mission. Before the priests went back to Mexico, they buried the bell and hoped to return one day.
As I walked into the first gallery, I saw a wood sculpture that stood in the center of the room. This carving depicted “the crucified Christ, flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist with Angels holding instruments of the Passion”. It was painted oak and very appealing to the eye. It stood approximately 15 feet in the air. The origin of this sculpture is unknown, but it was found in a Belgium church. This kind of sculpture usually stood at the entrance or at the center of the alter in the church facing the congregation. This image of the suffering Christ relates to the Christian ideas of suffering and Christ’s salvation of all mankind.
St. Peters Basilica. (2009). Chapel of the Pieta. Retrieved April 15, 2011, from St. Peters
When I was a child I used to be frightened of entering such a place for it seemed so imposing and somewhat dangerous, especially when music was being played. One day, in order to keep a promise I had made, I saw myself forced to enter. It took me quite a while to get the courage to pass through the old oak door, but the moment I stepped in, I realized just how enchanting and breathtaking this building could be. Its fantastic architecture and exquisite frescoes reflect perfectly the unity between this earth and the unseen kingdom of angels in such a manner that one cannot say where one ends and the other begins. The way in which the church was built is also the vivid testimony of a medieval period. Although it is a place that can sometimes be cold and ask for respect it is where prayers are answered and magic is done. An overwhelming feeling of inner harmony takes over you once you enter and God seems much closer. Darkness and light are welded perfectly together creating Redemption’s house. The tower allows you to see the entire town from the smallest river to the biggest building site, offering you its mightiness.