Natural Disasters at Mission San Rafael Arcángel

Mission San Rafael Arcángel endured multiple natural disasters:

• 1806 Earthquake: Collapsed adobe walls, damaged the stone church, forcing temporary relocation.
• 1818 Earthquake: Further weakened the church structure, leading to prolonged disrepair.
• 1824 Flood: San Rafael Creek inundated the mission, destroying crops and eroding land.
• 1849 Fire: Consumed wooden structures, roof, church interior, and valuable archives.
• 1906 Earthquake: Toppled the bell tower, damaged remaining buildings; subsequent restoration preserved the site.

Despite these calamities, the mission persists as a testament to resilience.