Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad is the thirteenth mission founded by Father Fermin Lasuen in October 9, 1791. This mission was named after ''Our lady in Solitude Mary near the coast''.

This mission is about 60 feet long and 20 feet wide. It is made out of adobe (a red orange kind of clay) and has a very thick roof. It is a plain white building. In the back of the mission is a statue of Mary in a black dress as a Spanish widow. This mission has a single bell made in Mexico in 1790 and it hangs near the entrance of the mission. It has 6 rooms, 2 windows, 2 doors, and a cattle yard.

A few native Americans lived in this mission and since no one offered protection for the mission it has been destroyed twice by the floods of the river banks. In 1832, a third flood hit the mission and it was the beginning of the end of Soledad, This was very difficult for the padres so after a year they prospered. The padres performed more than 2,000 baptisms and 700 marriages. There were many bountiful crops and healthy animals then. After time, the mission site was soon abandoned and left to restore what was left of Soledad. Today a small wing of rooms and chapel can be visited.

I learned that Soledad was very important to the padres.