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Founded June 13, 1798
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Personal Observations |
Mission Art & Photo-Art |
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Mission San Luis Rey is referred to as the King of the Missions because of it's size, the mission was the largest building in California. It was named after St. Louis IX, King of France. It was founded on June13th, 1798 by Father Fermin Lasuen. Fifty-four Indians were baptized on that day. Father Antonio Peyri administered Mission San Luis Rey from the day of its founding until his departure in January 1832. In July, construction of the first permanent structure began. The mission was self-sustaining, its buildings were constructed of local materials, such as adobe, fired clay bricks and wooden timbers. The mission's agricultural assets included over 50,000 head of livestock. A large part of the mission lands was devoted to Grapes, oranges, olives, wheat, and corn. Irrigation water was channeled from the river just north of the mission. Mission San Luis Rey had reached it's highest prosperity by 1818. It had six outlying ranches including Pala, Santa Margarita, San Jacinto, Santa Ysabel, Temecula, and San Pedro. San Luis Rey eventually established Mission San Antonio de Pala as an asistencia mission about 20 miles east. An asistencia mission was an extension or sub-mission and Mission San Antonio de Pala was one of two extension missions in the San Diego District. Father Peyri planted some South American seeds which sprouted into the first pepper trees in California. One of these trees still grows in the west enclosure (pictured below). The church measured 30 feet by 189 feet. It was constructed adobe and faced with burnt brick. The mortuary chapel is considered unique. Following secularization, Mission San Luis Rey came under the control of various administrators, several of whom acquired personal title to mission lands, leaving little for the intended Luisenos. The U.S. military used Mission San Luis Rey as a base of operations from 1847-1857. When California became part of the United States in 1850, the Catholic Bishop of California petitioned the U.S. government for the return of the missions. The mission was returned to the Catholic Church in 1865 by Abraham Lincoln, but it remained abandoned until 1892. In 1892 a group of Franciscans from Zacatecas, Mexico, seeking refuge in California, were assigned to San Luis Rey under the guidance of Father Joseph Jeremias O'Keefe. Father O'Keefe has been referred to as the rebuilder of the mission, as he oversaw from 1892 to 1912, repair of the church and rebuilding of the permanent living quarters on the foundations of the old mission. Restoration has continued since Father O'Keefe's death. The quadrangle was partially rebuilt in 1949 to use as a Franciscan college which serves today as a Retreat Center. During the 1950's and 60's the Friars uncovered the soldiers barracks and the lavanderia, hidden over the years by dirt and debris. In 1984 a restoration effort to stabilize and preserve the exterior of the church building was completed. There is an ongoing conservation of paintings and sculptures. Archaeological investigations continue. |
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4050 Mission Avenue San Luis Rey, CA 92068 Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is located near the cities of San Luis Rey, Oceanside, and Carlsbad, on State Highway 76, about five miles east of I-5. You can see the mission from State Highway 76. Turn noth on Rancho Del Oro Drive. |
 Front of church. Photo date: 1-10-04. |
 Church. Photo date: 12-30-02. |
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San Luis Rey
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