Would you like to learn about this mission? Good, because I have some interesting facts! The mission was established on June 4, 1823. It was the last mission built and there were only 21 missions. It was named in honor of St. Francis Solano. He was born in Spain in the year 1549.

He spent 20 years as a missionary. The location is 40 miles north of San Francisco, in an inland valley called by the natives Sonoma. This church is 105 feet long and 23 feet wide. It also has a tile roof. There used to be no bell tower or bell wall but now there is.

In 1826 the church was destroyed by fire. Later in 1827 they replaced it with a larger church. In 1846 Sonoma was taken over by a group of American settlers who declared a CA republic. In 1903 mission buildings were purchased by the historic landmark league.

The church is still standing. The most successful year of this mission's short life span was 11 years. This mission is in the coast and it has a Spanish name like all the others. This mission site was chosen for its weather, water, grazing land and building materials. Today the mission and a part of the town square at Sonoma have been restored as a California State Historic Park.

Here are some events that they recorded 127 baptisms, 34 marriages and 70 deaths; a total of 996 neophytes and lots more. The local Indian tribes were the Miwok, Wintun and Wappo. The church is not used regularly for religious purposes. The mission had over 10,000 acres of orchards, vineyards, grain fields and livestock grazing land. But again the good thing is that it's standing.