Rebirth of an original California mission

Nearly ruined by a devastating quake, Mission San Miguel shines once more.

After a multi-million dollar restoration effort following a devastating earthquake, the lovely Mission San Miguel , nestled near the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, once again welcomes visitors to tour its buildings and grounds.

One of 21 missions settled by Spanish padres before California became a state, Mission San Miguel (one of only 7 missions to be designated a National Historic Landmark) provides as a fascinating glimpse at this important part of California history—and to appreciate the extraordinary efforts by local residents to restore the site to its former glory.

The magnitude of their challenge can’t be underplayed. On December 22, 2003, the Central Coast was rocked by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake. Old Mission San Miguel, just 35 miles from the epicenter, was especially hard hit. Numerous cracks and fractures appeared in many of the mission's walls. Entire sections of plaster sloughed off, exposing the vulnerable adobe to the elements. The entire complex was closed to the public and the long process of raising funds and overseeing restoration began.

The results are remarkable. While restoration efforts continue throughout the mission grounds, you can now tour several buildings, including the elegantly simple church, which has been structurally restored but still shines with original beauty. Interior walls have not been retouched, so the paintings you see are the original works created by Indian artisans hundreds of years ago. You can also visit a small museum, the original cemetery, and the mission courtyard, with landscaping currently being restored to reflect original plantings.

Inside scoop: If you’re lucky enough to visit in September, aim for the third Sunday, when an annual fiesta will fill the mission with live music and folkloric dancing—and of course plenty of barbecue.