Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Mission San Luis Obispo is part of the historic chain of missions in California. The adobe and tile building is open daily for visitors and parishioners.
The mission is in San Luis Obispo, California, approximately 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 145 miles south of Monterey Bay.
The mission was founded in 1772 by Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded the chain of missions in Alta California (now the state of California). When the existing missions in the area were lacking supplies and facing starvation, a hunting expedition brought back bear meat from La Canada de Los Osos, "the Valley of the Bears." Father Serra decided to found a mission in that area.
When Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, the missions were secularized by the Mexican government. The San Luis Obispo mission was sold in 1845. When California became a part of the United States in 1850, some of the missions were returned to the church.
The full name of the mission is San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. It was named after Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, France, who renounced his claim to a royal inheritance to join the Franciscan Order.
The parish serves more than 2,000 families. Spanish services are available. A gift shop and museum are open seven days a week.