Welcome

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.

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.

Thank You!