The mission is very different than it was 217 years ago. When Harry Downie remodeled the mission, he changed some things in a good way.
The church was restored to its original state. It was repainted with mineral pigments mixed with cactus juice and linseed oil. The church has half circle designs on the roof supporting the loft. The altar has a picture Charles Borromeo above it. The church is also the burial site for Frs. Serra, Lasuén, Crespí, and Lopéz. Later, Pope John XXII named the church a minor basilica.
The church was restored to its original state. It was repainted with mineral pigments mixed with cactus juice and linseed oil. The church has half circle designs on the roof supporting the loft. The altar has a picture Charles Borromeo above it. The church is also the burial site for Frs. Serra, Lasuén, Crespí, and Lopéz. Later, Pope John XXII named the church a minor basilica.
Mission Carmel’s library was the first library in California. Today, you can look at it and see a small room with a chair, a desk, and many books. When the library was first built, there were only the books that Fray Serra brought with him to Carmel (only 6 or 7 books), but by 1820, the library’s collection grew to almost 2,000 books.
Each and every mission had a camposanto. A camposanto is like a cemetery. Over 2,000 Spaniards and neophytes were buried there. Each grave cross had an abalone shell in their honor.
Each and every mission had a camposanto. A camposanto is like a cemetery. Over 2,000 Spaniards and neophytes were buried there. Each grave cross had an abalone shell in their honor.
Modern Carmel is very different than it was 242 years ago. The mission had a HUGE effect on today’s economy. The presidio has become the US Naval School and the Defense Language Institute. The sardine harvest, started by the Esselen, has become a major industry today. The modern day peninsula is quite different than when the missionaries were here.
Even though Mission Carmel is very different from 242 years ago, Mission Carmel is still a great mission to go see.
Even though Mission Carmel is very different from 242 years ago, Mission Carmel is still a great mission to go see.