Mission San Luis Obispo

Mission San Luis Obispo was the fifth one built in California, founded September 1, 1772, by Father Junipero Serra. The name San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was given to honor St. Louis, Toulouse, France.

Interesting Facts About San Luis Obispo Mission

Unlike many other missions which had a team of two Fathers running them, San Luis Obispo started with just one Father. After secularization, the Spanish-style building was once remodeled to look like a New England church.

1772 - 1800

The mission was founded in 1772 by Father Junipero Serra. He put Father Jose Cavalier in charge. Cavalier stayed until he died in 1789. Father Martinez led the mission from 1796 to 1830.

In 1769, Spanish Governor of California Gaspar Portola moved north from San Diego, looking for the Monterey Bay. His party found a small river and a coastal valley near the present location of San Luis Obispo Mission. There were many bears there, so they named the area La Canada de Los Osos, Valley of the Bears.

They killed several bears for food and shared the meat with the native people. Their generosity paid off. The natives were so friendly that Father Serra decided to establish a missionary outpost in the valley, halfway between San Diego and Carmel. On September 1, 1772, Serra stopped there, picked a level spot and placed a large wooden cross.

Father Serra left Father Jose Cavalier and two Mexican soldiers to begin the building at San Luis Obispo Mission. In 1773, Father Palou arrived with food and live animals, and the San Luis Obispo Mission began to grow.

Not all the natives were friendly. Three times during the first two years, flaming arrows set the thatched roofs of San Luis Obispo Mission on fire.
 

By 1783, the population grew to 600 Indians. They had 700 cattle, 900 sheep, 60 pigs, 110 horses, and 25 mules. They raised wheat, corn, and beans. In 1789, Father Cavalier died and was buried in the church.
 

Father Luis Martinez arrived in 1796 and ran the mission for the next 34 years.

1800 - 1830

In 1804, the Fathers reported 832 neophytes and a total of 2,074 baptisms. The mission quadrangle was completed in 1819.

The San Luis Obispo Mission was at its peak in 1805 with 961 Indians. A new hospital and a second grist mill were built that year.
 

In 1810, Mexico was breaking away from Spain and stopped sending materials and money to the mission. The soldiers had to ask the priests for food and clothing. Father Martinez spoke out about how they were treated, and he was often in trouble with the Mexican officials.
 

In 1816, Father Martinez led a group of Indians from San Luis Obispo Mission to defend Santa Barbara and San Juan Capistrano from pirates. His actions did much to repair his relationship with the Mexican Army.

Father Martinez left in 1830, after 34 years of service.

Secularization

In 1834, Mexico decided to stop supporting the missionaries entirely and to sell the land. The livestock was driven away, and the buildings were left to deteriorate.

The mission was sold in 1845. Finally, it was returned to the Catholic church in 1859, but by then it was severely damaged.