Research Paper On Mission San Luis Obispo De Tolosa

Chassidy Berna

Ssci 110

Research project

November 15, 2014

Mission San Luis, Obispo de Tolosa

Just as most missions, there is a meaning behind the name of San Luis, Obispo de Tolosa. The patron saint of this mission is Saint Louis, Bishop of Tolouse in France. Louis was born in 1274 and was the second son of King Charles of Naples. After being defeated in war with Spain, Louis and his brother were sent, as hostages, to release their father. After spending seven years in Spain, Louis decided to join the order. After his release, he renounced his claim to Naples. Due to poverty and disease in the city, he got sick and passed away at the age of 23. Mission San Luis, Obispo de Tolosa was the fifth mission to be found. It was founded on September

This is the year that San Luis got the nickname “la Cañada de los Osos” meaning “valley of the bears”. Just as shortly as the city was discovered, it was also forgotten. When food supply started running low, Father Junipero Serra remembered the “valley of the bears”. He then decided to send hunters on expeditions to kill the bears for food supply for the Spanish and the Neophytes (Indians converted to Christianity). The hunting was a huge success and lead Junipero to believe that San Luis Obispo would be a great place for a mission. He further learned that San Luis Obispo had many advantages reinforcing that this city was a perfect place for a mission. In the article “The Spanish Missions of California”, it states, “Here were found assembled the beauty and natural advantages which doubtless were the main factors in establishment of the Mission of San Luis Obispo in 1772” (Smith, 253). These advantages included: good resources, good weather, and the Chumash. The Chumash was a local and friendly tribe that could provide labor for the mission. In an article in “Journal Appendix Reports California Legislature”, it writes about what made San Luis Obispo a place people wanted to be by describing the climate as mild, pleasant, and refreshing…enjoy gentle breezes. This enforces Father Serra’s beliefs that this would be a good pace for a mission. It is said that the first 12 months were

Unlike many missions in California, San Luis Obispo still stands in its original land. This mission was the first of missions with a roof covered in native red tiles, made by the Indians. Like many missions in California, Mission San Luis, Obispo de Tolosa is right in our backyard near the coast line of Pismo Beach. An interesting fact about this mission is that it is the only ‘L” shaped mission in California. Though one of the smallest, the mission contributed its share in 1782 by the King of Spain to help him carry on his war against England. It sent $107 to Spain. The population was highest recorded at 832 in 1804. In those years, the records showed a total of 2, 074 baptisms and 2,091 deaths. Over the years (1804-1832), San Luis Obispo produced 167,000 bushels of wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas and lentil. It had the fourth highest production of wheat in the entire chain, despite low population. The mission even had its own grist mill. A grist mill grinds grain into flour. They also planted vineyards and raised cattle and sheep. The agriculture was not only to maintain the mission community, but for trade and served to visitors of the mission. The mission returned back to the Catholic religion in 1859 and the current status of the church is Central parish church for city of San Luis Obispo. It is now, one of the best preserved missions in California to see the Spanish