Public Gallery

In the year 1776, a small Spanish mission was established in the San Francisco Bay Area, near what is now known as the Civic Center neighborhood. This mission, named Mission Dolores, was founded by Franciscan missionaries as part of the Spanish colonization of California. The mission was named after Our Lady of Sorrows (Nuestra Señora de los Dolores) and became an important center of religious, economic, and social activity in the region. The mission's location was chosen for its proximity to a freshwater lake and its sheltered position, providing the early settlers with a favorable site for their settlement. Over the next few decades, the mission grew in size and influence, becoming a hub of agricultural, ranching, and religious activities. The mission's legacy can still be seen today in the historic Dolores Street and the Mission Dolores Basilica, which stands as a testament to the region's early Spanish heritage.