Mission Nuestra Señora Dolorosísima de la Soledad was founded on October 9, 1791 by Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén and ministered to the Indians of the Salinas Valley. Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga died there on July 24, 1814 and was buried in the chapel. Prosperous in its early years, Soledad declined after 1825, but Father Vicente Francisco Sarría remained in poverty to serve the Indians until his death in 1835, when the mission was secularized. It was regranted to the Bishop of Monterey in 1859. After falling into ruins following 1874, the chapel was reconstructed and dedicated on October 9th, 1955 under the auspices of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.

Photo: Craig Baker

Photo: Barry Swackhamer

Photo: Barry Swackhamer

Photo: Andrew Ruppenstein

Photo: Andrew Ruppenstein

Photo: Andrew Ruppenstein

Photo: Unknown photographer and date

Photo: Andrew Ruppenstein

Photo: Unknown, Wm. H. Knowles Collection, Courtesy of the Historical American Buildings Survey

Photo: Unknown, from the Freethy Collection, Courtesy of the Historic American Buildings Survey

Photo: Andrew Ruppenstein

Photo: Andrew Ruppenstein

Soledad, California · USA