Mission San Francisco de Asis, better known as Mission Dolores, in San Francisco, California, was settled under Pope Alexander VI's direction. In 1493, the Pope declared that missionaries would travel with Spanish and Portuguese explorers. The priests would settle, establish missions and instruct natives about Catholicism.
On October 9, 1776, Mission San Francisco de Asis (then known as Dolores) was established on the shores of Laguna Dolores.
The town of Saint Francis grew up around Mission Dolores, but did not flourish due to the area's climate and geography.
Mission Dolores provided protection and resources, but indigenous peoples remained wary. The missionaries brought diseases and strange lifestyles the natives didn't understand.
The California Gold Rush brought more than 20,000 newcomers to the area, boosting Mission Dolores' parish.
Mission Dolores held together during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, making it the oldest building in the city.
