16th and Dolores
The Mission District
Mission Dolores is one of my favorite places in all of San Francisco. I try to visit at least once every two months or so. The history of the mission is well know to every Californian (we are required to study them in the 2nd grade), so I will not go into that. Wikipedia most likely has a wonderful dissertation if you are so inclined. My favorite part of the mission is the cemetery. When I first started going, many, many years ago, the cemetery was in very sad shape. Over the years a significant amount of restoration has taken place, making it a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of our fair city. The plants are representative of the 1790’s when the mission was founded, the garden also contains an Ohlone Indian ethno-botanic garden and examples of Native American plants and artifacts
Mission Dolores is the final resting place of some 5,000 Ohlone, Miwok, and other First Californians who built Mission Dolores and were its earliest members and founders. Other notables include the first Mexican governor, Luis Antonio Arguello, the first commandant of the Presidio, Lieutenant Moraga, and victims of the Committee of Vigilance, Cora, Casey, and Sullivan. Cemetery markers date from 1830 to about 1898.
Just before you enter the cemetery you are greeted with a small statue of Father Junipero Serra, the founder of the Mission Movement in California.
This life-size bronze sculpture was commissioned by the Hannon Foundation they are being placed at many spots around the country. The artist is Dale Smith.
*
*
It looks so peaceful!