San Rafael Museum

For this Mission we'll start in the gift shop/museum just beyond the Mission church and work down to the Mission church outside and inside. The gift shop and museum are combined into one room at this Mission (there are hopes to expand the museum). While somewhat cramped, there are several interesting items found in the museum section of the room.

First, look up. On the wall on top of the alcove where the majority of the museum items are located is a painting of the Padres and neophytes at what the Mission might have looked like during the time it was active.

Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003

While a guess, like all other representations of this Mission, it has all of the salient features that make this Mission different: no quadrangle and the bells mounted out front instead of in a structure beside or on top of the church.

Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003	Now look into the alcove. There you will find an altar along with a number of mission-era artifacts; including a hanging painting of the angel Saint Rafael. On the left you see the painting and on the right the altar and, below the altar, several different artifacts.	Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003
		Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003

Back in the corner, be certain to find the very interesting madonna statue. The painting on the wall behind the statue is Mission-era art and the statue appears to be Mission-era as well.

Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003

Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003	Look around in the various cases in the museum portion of the room. There you will find Mission models, A Mission bell, some original roof tile shards, various Mass instruments, and prayer books.	Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003
Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003		Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003
Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003		Picture taken 11:10am 29 Aug 2003