Mission Dolores

Mission Dolores, at 3321 16th St in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, is the oldest intact building in the city. The adobe mission chapel dates to 1791 and was part of the Spanish chain of California missions, formally named Mission San Francisco de Asis. Visitors enter a small museum and then the chapel itself, which has thick adobe walls, a painted wooden ceiling in Native Ohlone-inspired designs, and an ornate altar. Next door stands a large basilica, built later, with a richly decorated interior and stained glass. Behind the chapel, a historic cemetery holds the graves of early settlers and has a memorial to the Native Californians who lived and died at the mission. Garden paths, native plants and a quiet courtyard give a calm contrast to the busy neighborhood. A visit takes about 45 minutes, enough for the museum, chapel, basilica and cemetery. The mission is open daily, roughly 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, extending to 4:30 PM from May to October, and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas; opening times can change, so missiondolores.org is the place to confirm. Admission is a suggested donation of about $10 (USD) for adults and $5 (USD) for students. Groups of 10 or more need to reserve a tour in advance by calling 415-621-8203. Weekday mornings are generally quiet, while weekends bring more visitors. Muni Metro J-Church stops at Church Street and 16th Street, and BART 16th St Mission station is about a 10-minute walk away. Dolores Park is a short walk away, so many visitors pair the mission with a stop at the park and the neighborhood's cafes and murals.