Missions & Museums

California’s colorful Spanish mission heritage lives on in San Luis Obispo County. Two missions are located in the county – San Luis Obispo is home to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the fifth in a chain of Franciscan stations. The Mission church is unusual in its design in that its combination of belfry and vestibule is found nowhere else among the California missions.

North of Paso Robles is Mission San Miguel Archangel, the 16^th mission. Mission San Miguel Arcangel’s appearance is much the same as it was when founded. The inside of the mission has never been repainted. The pictures and the colors you see are the originals that were created and painted by Indian artesans under the direction of Esteban Munras. Today it is still a parish church. Across from the mission is the Rios Caledonia Adobe Museum, a century-old inn and stage stop along the Mission Trail.

San Luis Obispo’s Dallidet Adobe is designated as a State Historical Monument and was the first commercial winery on the Central Coast. It is said that in 1886 there were about 7,200 vines that produced 3,300 gallons of wine. Today the property features a variety of original trees and shrubs in an enchanting Mediterranean garden.

The Dana Adobe, located in Nipomo, is the oldest residence in the county and also a State Historical Landmark.

An additional commemoration of our rich history, the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail spans Arizona and California and travels through nineteen counties, including San Luis Obispo. The trail highlights the 1775 expedition of some 200 volunteer colonists who chose to start a new life and trek from Mexico to the harbor of San Francisco. Bautista’s expedition not only found a safe passage, but established friendly relations with Native Americans along the way. The trail remained a crucial link to California throughout the Spanish colonization. Visitors can experience the historic portion of the trail that runs through the county.