Hi Jeff, An excellent post Jeff of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

One of my goals before Fall this year is to visit and collect some more of the Missions. I have captured  a few when I did the drive along the central coastline but can't wait to get some of the more local ones and the photo stories of their respective histories.

Thanks for this Jeff.  The "missions" in California were probably the inspiration for some of the most loved architectural types in "the west".  Just as Williamsburg was the inspiration for the architechural types in many areas of the east. 

Lovely photos.

Jeff:

I loved visiting the missions when I lived in California. I did see this one in San Luis Obispo but I had forgotten how beautiful it was. The missions provide a wonderful window into California's history.

This looks like an interesting place to visit! Thanks for the information!

Hi Jeff, those photos are just gorgeous.  I have always loved the missions that were shown in the movies and thought maybe some day I might have the privilege of seeing them in person.  I have not had the opportunity to do much traveling and are working towards changing this. This is a delightful treat.  Thank you and my best regards,

Ann

Jeff, the Missions bring a lot of history to California. Thanks for the information.

All of the missions are fascinating. I remember the one I built in elementary school.

I worked in SLO once for a few weeks in my last life. Never got to see the mission itself but that's some lovely country (and I had all kinds of fun going wine tasting!).

I like the beautiful mission bells! Gorgeuous photos, the soundtrack from Zorro is ringing in my head while viewing them.

Jeff

My wife so enjoy visiting the different missions. I was first introduced to this when I attended college. I couldn't enjoy them then because..... I was to focused on getting good grades and doing the the assignments. But now, it is fascinating and a joy. What a simple lifestyle too. Great pic and thanks for sharing.

Hey Jeff,

I've actually been to that mission myself, and it's absolutely beautiful. Your pictures really do a good job of describing it. It was nice to meet you at Rain Camp last Thursday too!

I would love to see these places in person. (I just saw how you really look on your facebook page without the sunglasses and hat !)

Hi Jeff - great post about the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Love the slide show.

I love the missions....as you probably know, we always do the mission projects in 4th grade, so I always took the kids on a special weekend and see as many missions as possible. We start in San Juan and hit LA, San Gabriel, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Santa Inez and Purisima, San Luis Obispo and the one that was really hurt in that earthquake just above SLO which I can't remember the name of (right off the 101)? Such a great weekend!! Miss those days, out of 4th graders :)

With the earthquakes and age, it is amazing that so many of the missions are still standing.

Great post! I live in San Luis Obispo and go to Mission Plaza often. I miss the giant Australian silk tree that used to grace the main entry to the church. They had to take it down a few years ago because the flowers and seed pods posed a serious saftey challenge to people going up and down the stairs. They made cuttings and so "saved" the tree. I believe those cuttings are planted all over town now.

Karen, the mission that was so badly damaged is San Miguel, about 40 miles north of SLO outside Paso Robles. They are getting some funding for repairs and doing fundraising for enough to complete other related projects. It's never been truly restored and one of the reasons it is my favorite is that it looks so much like it did 200 years ago. I can hardly wait for them to reopen it.