Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

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Mission Carmel's campanile ("bell tower") as seen from the central courtyard in June, 2004.

The Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (originally La Misión San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo) was first established in Monterey, California on June 3, 1770, the second of the 21 California missions. The Mission was named for Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, Italy. The following year, the Mission moved to its present location near the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, in what was the Third Military District; the original site continued to operate as a chapel and later became the Cathedral of San Carlos Borroméo. "Mission Carmel," as it came to be known, was Father Junípero Serra's favorite, and being close to Monterey (the capital of Alta California) became his headquarters. When he died on August 28, 1784 he was buried on the Mission grounds.

The Eslenes Indians who lived near the Mission were trained as plowmen, shepherds, cattle herders, blacksmiths, and carpenters. They made adobe bricks, roof tiles and tools needed to build the Mission. In the beginning, the Mission relied on bear meat from Mission San Antonio de Padua and supplies brought by ship from Mission San Diego de Alcalá. By 1794, the population had reached its peak of 927, but in 1823 the total had dwindled to 381.

On November 20, 1818 French privateer Hipólito Bouchard raided the nearby Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, California. The Mission was in ruins when the Catholic Church regained control of it in 1863. In 1884 Father Angel Casanova undertook the work of restoration. In 1931, Monsignor Philip Scher appointed Harry Downie to be curator in charge of Mission restoration; it became an independent parish two years later. In 1961, the Mission was designated as a Minor Basilica by Pope John XXIII.

Today, Mission Carmel is one of the most popular tourist sites on the Monterey Peninsula and is a National Historic Landmark. It is a place of pilgrimage for visitors from all over the world. In 1987, Pope John Paul II visited the Mission as part of his U.S. tour. It is also a busy and active parish church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey.

The Mission at Carmel, circa 1910. Note the reduction in the roof line in the modern-day photo below.

Contents

Historic designations

The main frontage of the capilla (chapel) at the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo.

A sketch of the Mission Carmel grounds as they appeared in 1792, by George Vancouver.

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