Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Río Carmelo, or Carmel Mission, was founded in 1771 and is one of 21 missions that span the California Mission Trail from San Diego to Sonoma. The Carmel Mission is a working Catholic church that holds regular mass and special events. The mission is also a popular wedding venue. Located blocks away from the quaint shops and restaurants of Carmel-by-the-Sea, visitors can find unique treasures at the mission, such as the oldest bible in California, which belonged to Father Junipero Serra, as well as the oldest statue of Mary, the mother of Christ, in the state. The mission is also home to California’s first library, which was stocked and used by the Franciscan missionaries who lived there.
Location / State
Carmel, California
Why it matters
The Carmel Mission is the second building erected on the Mission Trail and one of nine founded by 18th-century missionary Junípero Serra, who died in 1784 and was interned at the mission alongside Father Crespi, a longtime associate. Pope John Paul II made a much-publicized visit in 1987 to the gravesite in the mission’s stone church. Many Spanish and Native Americans have their final resting place beneath the church floor, which was once made of packed dirt and had no pews. Mission records indicate 374 burials, but as Native Americans continued to bury their dead there after the missions closed in 1834 by the Mexican government, there are likely more.
Ask a local
Make the mission part of a day out that includes a visit to nearby Mara Beach Carmel. The white sandy beach is a hidden gem at the end of Scenic Drive, which overlooks coastal bluffs and the Pacific Ocean. The beach is great for relaxing on a beach towel and catching the sunset after a tour of the mission. There is only a small parking lot, making this sojourn perfect for a mid-week jaunt.
Plan your visit
Learn more: Carmel Mission.
Best time: The mission has an active Catholic parish. Call the Museum Store at (831) 624-1271, ext. 210 to plan your visit.
Hours/admission: Mission is open Wednesday/Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. Memorial Day and Labor Day, the mission is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults: $15; Seniors (62+): $12; Youth (6-17): $8; Children under 6 are free.
Getting there: Car, bike, bus.
USA 250 Most Treasured Views is a USA TODAY Network project exploring places across America with historical and cultural significance, created in celebration of the USA 250 initiative marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Carmel Mission, a historic California landmark on Central Coast
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
