Exterior of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, showing the south wing, San Luis Obispo, California, ca.1900

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Title Exterior of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, showing the south wing, San Luis Obispo, California, ca.1900

Description Photograph of exterior view of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, showing the south wing, San Luis Obispo, California, ca.1900. The mission is situated on an area elevated from the level of the street and sidewalk in front of it with a stonewall which separates the mission from the street. Bells are hanging in the square bell tower with peaked roof. The latter section of the building (at left) is in a dilapidated condition. Dark debris (or mud?) litter the street (at right). A mountain is visible in the background.; "This mission marks the halfway point in the California mission chain. It is located near the Valley of the Bears where the Spanish had found such a large population of bears they were able to keep other missions from near starvation by hunting the bears and sending the meat to the missions. Since there were so many friendly Native Americans in the area, Fr. Serra chose this location for his next mission. Although not all of the natives were friendly. Just south of the mission were tribes that were determined to drive the white men out of the area. They would shoot burning arrows into the dry tinder buildings that would quickly spread to other buildings causing considerable damage and setbacks for the missionaries. Finally, recalling the fire resistant Spanish tile roofs of their homeland, the missionaries began to manufacture similar clay tiles. The red clay was made in pits, and then spread over wooden models to be dried in the sun. They were then baked in a kiln. These were the first roof tiles made in California. Not only were they a protection against the fire raids, they were waterproof, thereby keeping the interiors dry and protecting the adobe walls from the rain. These were eventually used in all future mission buildings built in California. Similar red tile roofs are seen today throughout California." -- unknown author (part 1 of 2).; "Secularization, in 1834, had devastating effects on the mission and its inhabitants. The livestock was driven off and the buildings were allowed to deteriorate to such a state that when it was finally sold in 1845 it brought only $510 - a fraction of its earlier value. There was little left of the mission when it was returned to the church in 1859. Then, in 1868, the buildings were remodeled with white painted siding and used as a parish church for the flourishing town in the area. At one time there was even a New England steeple added to the church. Eventually, in 1934, the steeple and siding were removed, and the church's earlier appearance was restored." -- unknown author (part 2 of 2).

Creator Pierce, C.C. (Charles C.), 1861-1946 (photographer)

Publisher University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Date Created 1900

Subject Missions -- Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (file heading), Missions, Spanish (lcsh), religious facilities (adlf), San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Mission (subject)

Tags oai:digitallibrary.usc.edu:chs,OAI-PMH Harvest

Place California (states), San Luis Obispo (city or populated place), San Luis Obispo (counties), USA (countries)

Temporal Subject 1900

Type images

Format 1 photograph : photoprint, b&w ; 21 x 26 cm. (aacr2), photographic prints (aat), photographs (aat)

Source California Historical Society (contributing entity), California Historical Society Collection, 1860-1960 (collection), Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, 1860-1960 (subcollection)

Repository Email specol@lib.usc.edu

Repository Name USC Libraries Special Collections

Repository Location Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189

Rights Public Domain. Please credit both “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library.

Copyright Public Domain. Please credit both “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library.

Access Conditions Send requests to address or e-mail given

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/chs-m17519

Identifier 5916 (accession number), CHS-5916 (call number), CHS-5916 (filename), chs-m265 (legacy collection record id), chs-c65-17511 (legacy record id), chs-m17519 (legacy record id), USC-1-1-1-14090 (legacy record id), 1-138-29 (microfiche number), USC (project)

IIIF ID [Document.IIIFV3ID]

DM Record ID 17511

Unique identifier UC142822

Legacy Identifier CHS-5916.tiff

Type Image

Internet Media Type image/tiff

Resolution 17.0 in × 13.6 in at 300dpi
43.1 cm × 34.6 cm at 300dpi

Inherited Values

Title Title Insurance and Trust and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection 1860-1960

Description The nearly 15,000 unique photographs of this collection contain the work of C.C. Pierce which cover the Los Angeles region city, street and architectural views, California Missions, Southwestern Native Americans, and turn-of-century Nevada, Arizona, and California. Pierce, active from 1886 to 1940, was one of the leading photographers of his day and amassed a collection of 15,000 images, including his own and those bought and copied from his contemporaries, George Wharton James and Charles Puck. The James collection contains over 2,000 images of portraits, customs, ceremonies, arts, and games of various groups of Southwestern Native Americans.

Date Created 1860/1960

Linked assets

Title Insurance and Trust and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection 1860-1960

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