The Carmel Mission Foundation, Inc. is an independent
non-profit organization formed to fund the restoration and preservation
of the historic properties and artifacts of the Carmel Mission (Mission
San Carlos Borroméo del Rio Carmelo) in Carmel, California.
The Carmel Mission was established in 1771 by Junipero
Serra and is both a State and National Historic Landmark. It was the
Headquarters for the California Mission System consisting of 21 missions.
The Mission is now in critical need of major repair and restoration.
Deterioration due to age and issues of
structural integrity must be addressed. This will be a multi-year/multi-million
dollar project.
BASILICA RESTORATION UNDERWAY
In August 2012, the Foundation announced sufficient funds had been raised to
proceed with the construction phase of the $5 million seismic retrofit
of the Basilica. Blach Construction was selected as general contractor.
Work has been proceeding smoothly and the retrofit should be completed
by early spring. In January of this year work commenced on the $2.2 million
final phase of the Basilica’s restoration, which includes repair of the
walls, towers, and dome; fire protection system; heating system; ADA
improvements; and new lighting for the Basilica. However, by accelerating
and overlapping the more critical work in this phase with the seismic
retrofit now underway, we have the opportunity to save $1 million by
taking advantage of the scaffolding and contractor infrastructure already
in place.
For additional details on this project, see the video opposite, the Restoration page of this web site, and links on the News page to recent media coverage,
video’s and our Newsletters.
THE MISSION'S IMPACT ON COMMUNITY
As one of the top three tourist attractions on the Monterey Peninsula, the Carmel
Mission has over 250,000 visitors each year coming from throughout California,
across the nation, and around the world. It is a major cultural, historic,
and educational asset and is fundamental to the economic vitality of
the Monterey Peninsula.
Every fourth grade student from the Monterey Peninsula and from around California,
about 450,000 in all, are required to study the California Missions.
Many thousands of these students choose to do their mission project on
the Carmel Mission, as it was the Headquarters of the California Mission
System.
The Mission also provides venues for private and major public
regional events that attract thousands of people annually. Among these
are the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Monterey Symphony and the
Carmel Bach Festival. Community groups such as I-Help Homeless Advocacy,
Carmel Chamber of Commerce, “Taste of Carmel," and the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital's “Berries and Branches" event also utilize the Carmel Mission’s facilities.
Time
has once again taken its toll on the Carmel Mission. Please help us now,
as others have done in the past, to restore and preserve this national
historic treasure by making your tax deductible donation today.
To
learn more about how you can help with this restoration
project, please visit our How to Help web page.