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Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma (Sonoma Mission)
Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma (Sonoma Mission)
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114 E Spain St.
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-938-9560
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma (Sonoma Mission) Description
The northernmost mission in the chain of 21 Catholic settlements that once fed and housed missionaries as they traveled up and down the state, Mission San Francisco Solano -- as it's officially known -- is one of the most accessible and well-preserved. Finished last of all the missions, when California was under Mexican rule, the mission and the oldest buildings in the town that surrounds it are quite Spanish in style, with red tile roofs and whitewashed walls. Don't miss the barracks and museum, which give an authentic feel for what life was like in a rugged western outpost in the 1800s. Rooms filled with costumes, dishes, tools, and other artifacts of daily life look as if the occupants just stepped out to attend church. Be sure to check out our other Sonoma vacation ideas.
Historical Landmark
History Museum
Kid Tips
Babies: The mission is stroller-friendly, and while babies and toddlers won't understand the history, there's plenty to look at in the colorfully decorated chapel.
School-Age Kids: In California, all school children study the missions in fourth grade, and this is an ideal time to visit San Francisco Solano because of the historical furnishings and barracks.
Pre-Teens & Teens: The historic park that the mission is located in contains additional buildings that may interest teens and tweens more, such as the Vallejo Home, filled with antiques and period clothes. Pick up a map in the museum gift store and ask directions to the other historic buildings that make up the park.
Planning Notes
- Tours offered. Tours of the mission are offered at 11, 12, 1 and 2 p.m. and are well worth taking if you can time your arrival for one of these times.
Just the Facts
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Wednesdays, closed Thursdays.
Fees: Under $10
Recommended Time: 1 - 2 hours
