Established: 1797

By: Father Pedro Cambon

Order: 17th of the 21 missions

Location: South of San francisco

Named For: San Michael the Arcangel

Interesting Fact: Has a beautiful Pepper Tree

Mission San Miguel Arcangel was the 17th mission. Our mission was named after San Michael the Arcangel. San Miguel is just south of San Francisco. It was built there because the spanish wanted each mission to be a days walk apart. Monty and I found out that San Miguel is in an inland valley and that it was built in 1797. Hmmm, I wonder what makes San Miguel Arcangel so interesting.....

Here's your answer. One clever idea that the padres thought of was to put two fountains in our mission, one for visitors and one for workers. They also put in two sets of workers quarters because this mission was crowded. Near the workers quarters, they (the padres) put in a huge beautiful pepper tree that is now called "Mother of the Pepper Trees" because it is the first pepper tree ever planted. San Miguel also has a patio around the fountain for the workers. Near the fountain outside the mission there was a river that women washed clothing in and bathed in. They had the place surrounding the river off limits to men (and boys) with the perimeter lined with cacti, except for a place where there are two guards. But the cool thing is that they have a graveyard that they had to make big because of a war. The main building was 71` x 17` and the chapel was 34` x 28`. But I wonder: what is the mission like today?

Well wonder no more. I have the answer. This mission was used for 24 years! Thats a while! But still, over time, people abandoned the mission San Miguel. However, people have preserved it to this very day, the vivid colors still bright. You should go there sometime.