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Photography Gallery - Mission San Miguel Arcángle

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Kenneth A. Larson has a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and Theme Parks using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design. Also experience in other areas of Design.
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Mission San Miguel Arcángle - Photography Gallery

All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003, 2004.

Select photographs of my many visits to the California Missions build by Spain and Mexico between 1769 and 1823.

#16, San Miguel Arcángle. Founded July 25, 1797 by Father Fermin Lasuen. Paso Robles.

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Personal Observations

Mission San Miguel Arcángle is the closest mission to Highway 101, the modern approximation of the original El Camino Real. Ironically, the next mission north in the chain, San Antonio de Padua, is the most isolated. Easily visible from the highway, my father speed past it many times refusing to stop. My wife and I had been planning for over a month to drive from Los Angeles to San Jose on Christmas day, 2003, to visit her parents. Along the way, we had planned to stop at Mission San Miguel Arcángle for the 9:00 am Christmas mass, and also stop at Mission San Antonio de Padua and Mission Nuestra Sonora de la Soledad. Only three days, almost to the hour, before our planned visit to San Miguel, on December 22, 2003, a 6.5 earthquake struck the area and seriously damaged the mission. When we arrived Christmas morning, all we could do was walk around the mission in a light rain, photographing the mission from the outside as my wife held a large umbrella over my camera. We stopped again on the return drive and while it had stopped raining, the mission was still closed with chain link fence and yellow hazzard tape blocking every entrance. Most of the mission is now open and we plan to return soon and photograph the open parts of what is one of the best preserved missions.

Photo-Art
Mission Art & Photo-Art

History

The first winery in California was at Mission San Miguel.

Address and Directions

801 Mission Street
San Miguel, CA 93451-0069
Telephone (805) 467-3256

From Highway 101 north: Exit Highway 101
From Highway 101 south: Exit Highway 101
Watch signs.

Photography Gallery


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On the morning of December 22, 2003, about 10:00 am, an earthquake originating about 30 miles west of Mission San Miguel Arcángle struck the area and damaged the mission. Within a few weeks, most of the museum complex reopened to the public. The church will remain closed until a seismic retrofit can be performed. We had the bad luck to have planned a visit only three days after the quake and again two days later on our return trip, while the entire site was still closed. We visited the open portion of the mission a few months later and hope to return again when the church is repaired and reopens.
It may take two to five years to repare the earthquake damage, depending on availability of funding.
Contributions to the rebuilding can be made to:

Old Mission San Miguel Parish
775 Mission Street
P.O. Box 69
San Miguel, CA 93451-0069


Photo date: 12-25-03.
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Earthquakes are a part of the mission story. Few missions do not have a story to tell of damage from earthquakes. The stone church at Mission San Juan Capistrano was never rebuilt. I personally have lived through two earthquakes that damaged Mission San Fernando. With your contributions, Mission San Miguel Arcángle will rebuild and the church, at the best preserved of the missions, will reopen.
More text and photos at Mission Trail Today.

Sources:

This page last updated 10-6-04

This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson.
Copyright © 2003, 2004, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved.
Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website.

This site is a light hearted alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. Kesign Design Consulting

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