11 Most Endangered
Mission San Miguel Arcangel
Year Listed: 2006
Location: California
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Deterioration
Midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on the historic Camino Real (the Royal Road, now Highway 101) stands Mission San Miguel Arcangel, founded in 1797 as the 16th of California’s famed 21 Spanish missions. The present mission church, completed in 1821, is one of California's best-preserved and authentic reminders of the past. Collectively the oldest Euro-American structures in what is now California, the Spanish missions played a critical role in the occupation of Alta California, the northernmost frontier of New Spain, securing souls for the Church and land for the Crown. A superb example of Franciscan Mission architecture and recently designated a National Historic Landmark, Mission San Miguel is famous for its much-photographed and studied exterior and an interior glowing with elaborate murals painted by Salinan Indian converts under the direction of Spanish artist Esteban Munras. The murals are the only surviving example of unrestored Spanish Colonial art in any of the California missions. Sadly, Mission San Miguel's survival is in doubt. The mission was severely damaged by the San Simeon earthquake in 2003. In addition to significant structural damage, the earthquake caused extensive damage to priceless interior wall paintings. Estimates for total cost of all conservation efforts for the mission will be nearly $14 million. The mission remains closed to the public and susceptible to further damage and possible collapse.
Update
Directly following the 2003 earthquake, Mission San Miguel hired a team of architects, engineers and conservators to develop a preservation plan. The mission has already funded several million dollars worth of construction to stabilize parts of the church and other buildings. To date, the first phase of a seven phase restoration project has been completed, and the second phase, restoration of the old convento (original historic Friars quarters) is currently underway. A historic part of the old Mission Convento, presently a museum, reopened to the public in December 2006. While progress is being made slowly, it will require collaborative work to ensure that the Mission can receive desperately needed federal and state preservation and disaster funds as well as financial contributions from foundations and the general public to ensure the mission's continued survival.
