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Welcome to Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, King of the Missions. Founded in 1798 by
Padre Fermin de Lasuen, successor to Padre Junipero Serra. The Mission was named
after St. Louis IX, King of France, who lived during the 13th century. The history
of the San Luis Rey area reflects five periods of occupation: Luiseno Indian, Spanish
Mission, Mexican Secularization, American Military and Twentieth Century Restoration.
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LUISENO INDIANS: Prior to Spanish occupation, the Luiseno people inhabited this area for
hundreds of years. Their villages were located in valleys, along streams, by the coast
and near the mountains. Luiseno homes were dome shaped and constructed of tules over a
branch frame. It was the chief and shaman who saw to it that laws were obeyed in the
village. The women gathered most of the plant foods, while the men usually hunted for
animals and fish. The Luiseno’s made tools out of stone, such as pestles for grinding
and pounding. They created baskets from grasses and natural fibers and used them for
gathering and preparing food.
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SPANISH MISSION: The establishment of the missions in Alta California was not authorized
until the threat of Russian encroachment into the area. In its long history of
colonization, Spain had learned that land could be claimed by sending dedicated padres,
a handful of soldiers and a few supplies. With a shortage of Spaniards in the New World,
Spain decided to colonize with the indigenous people. The Franciscans were chosen not
only to preach to the Indians, but to teach them new skills so they could become
productive citizens for Spain. Father Antonio Peyri was put in charge of Mission San
Luis Rey, from the day of its founding on June13th, 1798 until his departure in January
1832. Between these years the mission became home to approximately three-thousand Indians.
In their name and as a result of their labor, the mission cared for over 50,000 head of
livestock. Large section of the mission’s lands were brought under cultivation. Grapes,
oranges, olives, wheat and corn were some of the crops produced. Fields were irrigated by
water channeled from the river just north of the mission. The mission was self-sustaining,
its buildings were constructed of local materials, such as adobe, fired clay bricks and
wooden timbers. By 1830, the mission was the largest building in California.
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MEXICAN SECULARIZATION: After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, the law of
secularization was passed. The idea behind the law was a simple one; each mission was
given a ten year period to fulfill their function of instructing the Indians. After this
time the missions were to be replaced by another colonial institution, the pueblo. This
last step was long overdue in Alta California. The law came to the mission in 1833. The
law stated that the land was to be handed over to the Indians. However, Mission San Luis
Rey came under the control of various secular administrators, several of whom managed to
gain title to large portions of former mission land and thousands of cattle and sheep,
leaving nothing to the Luisenos.
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AMERICAN MILITARY: From 1847-1857 the mission was used as an operational base by U.S. soldiers.
Notable figures that served at the mission include General Stephen W. Kearny, Kit Carson
and Battalion of Mormon Volunteers, who served at the mission for a period of six weeks.
Some of the troops stationed at the mission were ordered to take charge and prevent any
depredations upon it. Other troops assisted local ranchers in dismantling rooms and
provided building materials for their homes. In 1850 California became part of the United
States, and the Catholic Bishop of California petitioned the U.S. government for the return
of the missions. In 1865 the mission was returned to the Catholic Church by Abraham Lincoln.
However, after the military vacated the mission, it lay abandoned until 1892.
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20th CENTURY RESTORATION: In 1892 a group of Franciscans from Zacatecas, Mexico sought refuge
in California and asked the Bishop for a site to move their novitiate. They were assigned
to San Luis Rey under the guidance of Fr. Joseph Jeremias O’Keefe. Fr. O’Keefe has been
referred to as the rebuilder of the mission. From 1892 to 1912, Fr. O’Keefe repaired the
church and rebuilt the permanent living quarters on the foundations of the old mission
(where the museum sits today). Restoration has continued throughout the years since Fr.
O’Keefe’s death. Included in this has been the partial rebuilding of the quadrangle in
1949 for 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 from layers of dirt
accumulated over the years. In 1984 a restoration effort to stabilize and preserve the
exterior of the church building was completed. Conservation of paintings and sculptures
in the museum collection is an ongoing process, and archaeological investigations continue
to unearth the past.
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Items of Interest...
