Mission San Luis Rey Museum is located onsite at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside, California. While the main church, cemetery and surrounding grounds are open to the public, there is a small admission fee to tour the museum. Open 7 days a week, follow the link to this page of their website for specific information on the hours, admission costs and “behind the scenes” tours: Mission San Luis Rey Museum information.
The entrance to Mission San Luis Rey Mission is located off the main portico, to the left of the entrance to the church. I have mentioned in several earlier posts that Charlie and I have been to this Mission many times over the last several years. While we are not members of the church (I’m not even Catholic!), we find this gorgeous church and its surrounding 56 acres a wonderful place to have a picnic and enjoy a day of peaceful reflection touring their beautiful grounds and buildings.
A treasure trove of early California history, Mission San Luis Rey Museum offers displays of traditional habits and icons…
bells…
books…
paintings and photographs…
pottery and artifacts…
dioramas…
maps…
and statues and more.
The collection on display inside the Mission San Luis Rey Museum is vast and covers the Native American, Spanish, Mission, Mexican Secularization and American Military periods of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia’s history.
Though not original to the buildings, brightly painted murals awash the walls throughout Mission San Luis Rey Museum. They were recreated from surviving artifacts and photographs from the period.
Doors within Mission San Luis Rey Museum lead to outdoor corridors…
with cages of canaries happily singing overlooking the interior garden…
with fountains…
and bells…
and benches set out for quiet reflection.
Old brick stairways lead to secluded areas…
beautifully restored windows cloister private interiors…
and lovely old doors are around every corridor.
Founded in 1798, construction on the current Mission church building, including the Museum attached to it, started in 1811 and was completed in 1815. A National Historic Landmark, Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is a gloriously beautiful church. One of the most unique and fully restored in the California Mission system, it is a sacred place. Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is the largest of the 21 California Missions and has an active parish served by Franciscan friars.
More posts about Mission San Luis Rey de Francia:
Mission San Luis Rey Welcome Center
Inside Mission San Luis Rey Church
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Tootles,
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