Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Andrew Ruppenstein
Taken: January 16, 2010
Caption: Former church floor, with graves of Arillaga and Ibanez
Additional Description: On the east side of the mission grounds is the remains of the original church. It was dedicated in 1791 and destroyed by floods in 1828, never to be rebuilt. Buried in the floor of the church were Jose Joaquin de Arillaga, the first governor of Alta California, and Padre Florencio Ibanez, the resident priest at the mission, who served from 1803 until his death in 1818. Both have interpretive signs next to their graves:

Jose Joaquin de Arillaga - known affectionately as Papa by his soldiers, companions and friends, he served twice as Governor of California under Spanish rule. Upon his death in 1814, he was, at his request, garbed in the Franciscan habit and buried in the mission church.

Padre Florencio Ibanez - as the only resident padre he devotedly served at Mission Soledad for 15 years until his death November 26, 1818. He is the only priest buried at this mission.
Submitted: February 6, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
Database Locator Identification Number: p95418
File Size: 0.353 Megabytes

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