Mission San Rafael Arcangel

Mission San Rafael Arcangel

Mission San Rafael Arcangel
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Mission San Rafael Arcangel, built as a hospital, was named for the Angel of Healing.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles88 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
41
Average
20
Poor
3
Terrible
0

rockyhillgal
Davis, CA279 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2011
Mission San Rafael Arcangel was a smaller mission in the chain of California missions and its recreated mission structure and small museum reflect that. The small mission, an active chapel, can be enjoyed in less than 10 minutes and the museum consists of a corner in the gift shop. Nonetheless, the mission and its history is interesting and its easy to visit.
Written January 21, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Giolegaspi
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2013
Calm and relaxing place for reflection. A place wer i can have a silent time to give thanks to jesus.
Written April 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

etweeden
London, UK757 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2015 • Family
No mission of the 21 in 'Alta California' was more thoroughly erased than San Rafael. This 20th of the 21 'California Missions' was founded in 1817 as an 'Asistencia' to Mission Dolores (San Fernando de ASIs) in San Francisco. The reason? Increasing contact with Europeans combined with the cold, wet and generally inhospitable conditions at San Francisco were making many Native Americans I'll and decimating the population. The answer was to isolate the sick population in an area away from the 'town' of San Francisco, in a better climate. Thus the move to Marin County. There was a small Miwok Indian settlement here, and here the Friars built Mission San Rafael as a hospital, with the church a hospital chapel. It became a full fledged Mission in 1822. Why name it after the Archangel Raphael? In the Vulgate Old Testament, in the Book of Tobias, God sends his archangel Raphael as a healing messenger to Tobias. It was therefore certainly fitting to name a mission hospital after Raphael. This mission became the first that was secularised (taken from the Catholic Church and handed over to the Native Americans and Mexicans). It became a parish church for the surrounding population. By the 1830s-1840s there was increasing deterioration of the buildings, made of Adobe and straw. By 1846 the buildings were in a ruined state and the Church had been abandoned. How do we know this? John C. Fremont used the mission buildings as his headquarters during the Mexican War, and used the mission Church ruins as a stable for his troops! By 1849 with increased settlement in the area and the Gold Rush pandemonium, the buildings were all torn down to make room for a 'greater town' of San Rafael. The only two things remaining from the original Mission were the mission cemetery and an old pear tree. This is why San Rafael has been called 'The most obliterated' of the missions. The current mission church is a restoration built in 1949 very near the site of the original mission hospital. The gift shop and museum has some original artifacts from the mission days, including its three bells. The Mission is free to visitors. Street parking all around, and 'downtown' San Rafael,shopping and eating are within 2 blocks of the Mission and Parish. Check their website for details on opening hours (saintraphael.com). Enjoy!
Written September 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

colorado71
Colorado Springs, CO55 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
I was worried the Mission might be closed due to COVID concerns in California, but I could not tell for sure from on-line comments.

Unfortunately, everything was closed: Parish church, the reconstructed Mission church and the Mission bookstore. Nice lady at the Parish office told us they have no idea when they might reopen to the public.
Written June 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cjm77
Wilmington, NC88 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2011 • Solo
Mission San Rafael is probably one of the less known California missions. Nonetheless, if you are in the area it is really worth stopping in. The small mission church is a great architectural example, and the decoration, particularly the high altar is very striking. The Mission church is quiet, serene, and uncrowded, a good place to pray if you are into that thing. The main parish church is very impressive from the outside and fits in well with the smaller church. The inside is a mixed bag. There are gorgeous stained glass windows and statues, but the effect is completely marred by the central altar. The high altar towards the back has been shunted into obscurity and has been replaced by a central altar that was all the craze after Vatican II. The central altar looks cheap and its fake marble, pink cornices with light sconces, and plug in fountain give it all the dignity of a strip-mall Chinese restaurant. I hope that in the future this aberration is torn down and the high altar is restored to its place of precedence.
Written October 12, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert C
Corte Madera, CA16 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019 • Solo
Replica of Original California Missions. A working Catholic Church replicating the original Father Serra created mission. Ongoing masses,baptisms and other church functions. A very pretty interior and a small chapel located alongside that sells religious souvenirs. Close to downtown San Rafael Ca if you want to stroll to a local restaurant. Well worth seeing if you enjoy early California history and missions.
Written May 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PtLomafoodie
San Diego, CA979 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2015 • Friends
Established in 1817 as a hospital for parishioners of the Basilica Dolores/ Mission of San Francisco de Asis . Plaster & adobe walls fell in disrepair and the Old Mission was rebuilt in 1949.
There is no garden tour at this Old Mission site .
The Basilica Dolores is the tall pink church built next to the
Written September 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AmitRamraz
Tel Aviv, Israel15 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2013 • Family
We visited this site with our fourth grader kid on a Sunday morning. Place was busy with two masses in progress. Kid was impressed and very excited during the visit. the mission is located on a beautiful Mission street with a lot of other attractions to see. Overall a nice experience.
Written May 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marinite38
California Desert, CA30 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2012
Street parking can be difficult during the week and business hours, plus, parking meters are the standard; the Mission offers no parking for visitors. The Mission and Church are not original, having both been rebuilt after earthquakes destroyed the first ones. Gift shop is hit-or-miss as far as operating hours are concerned. Bring walking shoes because all the buildings on the property are on a steep upward slope.
Written December 13, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RCMaui
Sacramento, CA122 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2012 • Family
This mission will be celebrating it's 150 anniversary in 2013. It is small, and something about it - makes it historically special and sweet. To attend Mass in the mission, is special too. To attend Mass at the main church is beautiful, but the quaintness of the mission is so nice.
Written December 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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