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.

Historic designations

• National Register of Historic Places #NPS-66000214
• California Historical Landmark #135

References

See also

• Spanish missions in California
• Cathedral of San Carlos Borroméo (aka Royal Presidio Chapel), Monterey, California
• USNS Mission Carmel (AO-113) — a ''Buenaventura Class fleet oiler built during World War II.
• USNS Mission San Carlos (AO-120) — a Buenaventura Class fleet oiler built during World War II.

External links

• Official mission website
• Elevation & Site Layout sketches of the Mission proper
• National Park Service page

California missions | Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey in California | Basilica churches in North America | California Historical Landmarks | Landmarks in California | Monterey County, California | Registered Historic Places in California | Tourism in California | 1770 establishments

Mission San Carlos Borromeo