Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded in September 1772.
It is the fifth of California’s 21 missions.
The mission system was created by the Spanish to mark and expand their territory. An attempt to discourage foreign sailors from settling in California.
The missions are sustained by a complicated past that has brought diseases that impacted local indigenous communities.
There are historical records that highlight Spanish soldiers’ mistreatment of Native Americans.
“Women, children and men were forced into labour, women were sold into arranged marriages and into prostitution for soldiers, many people don’t realize how many of our relatives are buried there,” said Violet Sage Walker, Northern Chumash Tribal Council President.
In the Mission of San Luis Obispo, the influence of the native Chumash is undeniable. The adobe bricks that made up the original structure of the mission, as well as the art on the ceiling of the main church.
Throughout history there have been wars, fires and earthquakes, but the church has remained the center of the city.
The San Luis Obispo Mission is hosting an anniversary celebration in the Mission courtyard on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“It’s going to give you a better understanding of where you live because you have a deeper understanding of its history and what happened here a few hundred years ago,” said Connie Pillsbury, who is an associate professor at the San Luis Obispo Mission.
There will be an “Early California Life” ad for the community to learn more about the history of the mission.
“A working forge where you can watch a smith transform straight metal into a curve, a camp for miners […] an agricultural camp and then lots of people demonstrating olive oil tastings, bell tower tours,” Pillsbury explained.
Community members can attend the event for free, which also features live music and activities for all ages.
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