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The San Luis
Obispo mission was founded on September 1, 1772. The
origins of the mission are quite different from the other
missions. There were no large populations of natives to
convert. Instead, there were large populations of grizzly
bears. When food supplies ran low at the San Antonio or
Carmel missions, hunting parties would go out to kill the
bears for food.
In 1772, the San Luis Obispo mission
was dedicated and a small number of priests and soldiers
were left to start the mission. Native Indians
attacked
the mission in 1776, burning it down. The mission had to
be rebuilt. Although the mission was founded for its
source of bear meat, it eventually developed some
agriculture, including a large vineyard.
After secularization the town of San Luis Obispo
continued to grow. The mission church served as a local
parish church. The mission was eventually restored in the
1930's. |
