Carmel-by-the-Sea in Monterey County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Junípero Serra
⎯⎯⎯
Establishing the California Missions
⎯⎯⎯
A Lasting Tribute

— The Ave Maria Bell —

Junípero Serra Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

1. Junípero Serra Marker

Inscription. Junípero Serra Serra played a decisive role in the European settlement of the New World. He was born Miquel José Serra in Petra on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca on November 24, 1713. Though not an assuming figure and plagued by ill health much of his adult life, he brought Christianity and Spanish culture to California. The first half of his life was spent in Mallorca; the second half was dedicated to developing missions and administering to native peoples in remote regions of New Spain (later Mexico) including Sierra Gorda, Baja California and Alta California (today the State of California).

Bright, earnest and deeply religious at an early age, he chose to become a Franciscan, adopting the name of Junipero after an ardent disciple of St. Francis of Assisi who founded the Franciscans. Serra was ordained a priest shortly before Christmas, 1737. He earned his doctorate in sacred theology at Lullian University in Mallorca’s capital of Palma and in 1743 was named to the chair of Theology. Two of his students, Francisco Palou and Juan Crespi, became lifelong associates in Serra’s missionary work.

Junípero Serra long

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dreamed of going to the New World as a missionary. In 1749 Fray Serra, now 36, began the treacherous journey across the sea to New Spain and for the next 19 years dedicated himself to missionary work in Mexico. Between 1750 and 1758 he revitalized five missions in the Sierra Gorda region. In 1767 the Franciscan were asked to take over the 13 missions of Baja California. Serra was appointed padre-president and while there founded Mision (sic) San Fernando Rey de España de Velicata. In 1768 Don José de Galvez, the Visitador General of New Spain, was planning a land and sea expedition to settle Alta California, and Serra was selected to be founder and president of the Alta California Missions.

Establishing the California Missions Joining the expedition led by Don Gaspar de Portolá, Serra arrived in San Diego in 1769 and established the first Alta California mission. In 1770 the parties set out for Monterey Bay where the central settlement of Alta California and the second mission was temporarily located. He moved the mission in 1771 to the Carmel River, six miles to the south, in order to benefit the natives and to take advantage of

Establishing the California Missions Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

2. Establishing the California Missions Marker

better water and agricultural conditions. The Carmel Mission (Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo) became the headquarters for the California Mission System and is now designated a National Historic Landmark. From here personnel and supplies were sent throughout Alta California, ultimately supporting 21 missions.

Between 1769 and 1782 Fray Serra founded the first nine missions in Alta California, San Diego de Alcalá, San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, San Antonio de Padua, San Gabriel Archángel, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Francisco de Asís, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Clara de Asís and San Buenaventura. The remaining missions were founded under the guidance of Fray Fermín Francisco de Lasuen and his successors. By the end of 1783 the missions had attained a level of self-sufficiency that Serra had envisioned years earlier.

Fray Junípero Serra overcame political and physical adversity with his dedication and sustaining faith, and left as his legacy the foundation of Californian. This devoted and selfless missionary died at the Carmel Mission on August 28, 1784 at the age of 70. The natives mourned the loss of their

A Lasting Tribute Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

3. A Lasting Tribute Marker

beloved Fray Serra. His body rests under the Carmel Mission Basilica’s main alter. Honoring him is a cenotaph in the Mora Chapel adjacent to the Basilica and this Serra Memorial Wall. A statue of the blessed Junípero Serra, on of the giants of California history, stands in Statuary Hall in our nation’s Capitol Builbing.

A Lasting Tribute This wall was erected in 2011 as the centerpiece of the Carmel Mission Foundation’s Tricentennial Capital Campaign to restore and preserve the historical buildings of the Carmel Mission. It is intended as a celebration of the 300th anniversary of Junipero Serra’s birth in 1713, as well as a lasting tribute to those 300 donors whose generosity is helping make the Mission’s restoration possible. Of the seven plaques on the wall, the upper two are narrative commemorations of Father Serra’s life as his work. The five lower plagues recognize the campaign’s major donors.
The bell, Ave Maria, is a fitting adjunct to the setting as its history parallels that of the Mission and symbolizes the Mission’s historical resilience. Ave Maria was cast in Mexico City in 1807 and was installed at the Mission in

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

4. Junípero Serra Marker

The Ave Maria Bell in in the foreground.

1820. When the Mission was secularized after 1834 the bell was removed by local Indians for safekeeping and ultimately secreted at St. Patrick’s Church in Watsonville. Over time the bells whereabouts were lost but it was re-discovered and restored to the Mission in 1925, 105 years after its original installation. Ave Maria subsequently cracked through usage but a grant to the Foundation for the restoration of the bells allowed for an exact duplicate to be cast in Holland in 2010. The bell now hangs in Ave Maria’s original setting on the South side of the bell tower where it is visible from the memorial wall.

Taken together, the wall, the life and history of Junipero Serra, the donor plaques and the old bell are intended as lasting reminders of the history and significance of the Carmel Mission and a caring public’s commitment to maintain it into perpetuity.

Erected 2012 by Carmel Mission Foundation. (Marker Number 135.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks,

Junípero Serra Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

5. Junípero Serra Monument

and the Historic Bells series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1949.

Location. 36° 32.561′ N, 121° 55.159′ W. Marker is in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, in Monterey County. It is on Rio Road near Lausen Drive. This monument is located in the inner courtyard of the Carmel Mission. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3080 Rio Road, Carmel CA 93923, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Central Coast

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mission Cross (within shouting distance of this marker); Lt. Colonel Juan Bautista De Anza (within shouting distance of this marker); Early American Baptisms in California (within shouting distance of this marker); Portola Crespi Cross (approx.

The Carmel Mission courtyard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

6. The Carmel Mission courtyard

The Carmel Mission Church, undergoing renovation, is in the background.

0.7 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Korean War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

More about this marker. This monument to the life of Fray Junipero Serra and the significance of the Carmel Mission consists of two markers on the life of Serra, a tribute marker including material on the Ave Maria Bell, and two plaques, eventually to be five, listing donors to the Carmel Mission Foundation’s Tricentennial Capital Campaign.

Regarding Junípero Serra / Establishing the California Missions / A Lasting Tribute. Mission San Carlos de Borromeo de Carmelo was founded on June 3, 1770 by Father Junipero Serra, Presidente of the California Missions Chain. It was the 2nd mission in the 21 mission chain in Alta California. It was named for Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan.
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, aka Mission Carmel, is California Historical Landmark #135.

Also see . . .
1. Frey Junípero Serra Ferrer, O. F. M. (Submitted
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

7. Entrance to the Carmel Mission Church
on September 22, 2015, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
2. San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo. California Missions Foundation website entry (Submitted on September 12, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Interior of the Carmel Mission Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

8. Interior of the Carmel Mission Church

The Altar of the Carmel Mission Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2013

9. The Altar of the Carmel Mission Church

Fray Junipero Serra is buried beneath the altar.

Father Junípero Serra Resting In Peace image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 8, 2015

10. Father Junípero Serra Resting In Peace

The burial site of Fr. Junipero Serra

San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission image. Click for full size.

11. San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission

Photo taken from inside the church museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,272 times since then and 123 times this year. Last updated on December 12, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on March 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 10, 11. submitted on May 16, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.

Junípero Serra⎯⎯⎯Establishing the California Missions⎯⎯⎯A Lasting Tribute

— The Ave Maria Bell —

Junípero Serra
⎯⎯⎯
Establishing the California Missions
⎯⎯⎯
A Lasting Tribute