Mission of San Francisco Solano  114 E Spain Street Sonoma, CA 95476 (707) 938-9560 Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm  Web site: www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=479 Price: $3

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The history of Sonoma’s Mission is directly linked with General Mariano Vallejo, whose job was to monitor the activities of the Russians in their nearby settlement of Fort Ross. Vallejo helped establish the town of Sonoma and contributed to the construction of the Mission. The Mission was founded in 1823, and since the Franciscan Fathers needed wine for mass, they planted the first grapes two years later, founding the Californian wine industry.

The Mission went through many changes. By 1839, the buildings were in ruins, and when European settlers arrived in 1846, it was sold to a guy who converted the building into a saloon and the chapel into a liquor storage room! The Franciscan monks probably turned over in their graves!

At the beginning of the 20th century, the California Historic Landmarks League bought the Mission, restored it, and opened it to visitors. In 1970, the chapel burned down and was rebuilt. While there is significant historic value in visiting the Mission, it is mostly a replica, although one that is well done and gives you a glimpse of California’s early history.