National Historic Landmark

Carmel Mission

Carmel, Monterey County, California
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
66000214

About this property

Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo (English: The Mission of Saint Charles Borromeo of the Carmel River), first built in 1771 (where the mission was moved to a year after its 1770 establishment in Monterey), is one of the most authentically restored Spanish missions in California in California. Located at the mouth of the Carmel River in Carmel, California, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. From 1770 until 1833, the Monterey/Carmel mission was the headquarters of all Alta California missions. It was headed by Junípero Serra from 1770 until his death in 1784. It was also the seat of the second mission presidente, Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, who oversaw the completion of nine more missions. In 1833, the Alta California missions were secularized by the Mexican government. The extensive grazing lands were divided up into land grants, and Indigenous laborers were dispersed. By the mid-19th century, the Carmel mission structures had fallen into disrepair. The chapel was saved from total destruction when the roof was rebuilt in 1884. Two years later, ownership of the mission was transferred from a group of Franciscans to the Diocese of Monterey. Ever since, Carmel Mission has been a parish within that diocese. Beginning in 1931, Harry Downie began restoring the mission and worked continuously on the project for the next 50 years. It is the only Spanish mission in California that has its original bell and bell tower. Carmel mission contains the state's first library.

Location

Carmel, Monterey County, California
36.54267, -121.92014

Categories

ARCHITECTURERELIGION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Battles

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Questions about this property

When was Carmel Mission listed on the National Register?

Carmel Mission was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Carmel Mission?

Carmel Mission is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Carmel Mission a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Carmel Mission has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Carmel Mission?

The period of significance for Carmel Mission is recorded as the colonial era.

Can I research the history near Carmel Mission?

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