Downie Museum
Completed 2021
This 1,157 square foot adobe building was commissioned in 1919 by Father Ramon Mestres, renowned from John Steinbeck's novel Tortilla Flat, to serve as quarters for the visiting priest, and was completed in 1921. Believed to have been built on the site of the Jacal, Serra's 2nd church from 1773-1776, it was also Serra's headquarters for the Mission System and later housed the mission's physician until the mission lands were abandoned in the 1830's. In 1980, the adobe was dedicated as a museum to honor the mission's great restorer, Sir Harry Downie.
By 2019, this century old adobe was structurally overstressed, deteriorating, and in dire need of restoration. With the help of our community of donors, the Carmel Mission Foundation oversaw all planning, design, and fundraising of the $4 million. We combined this restoration work with the forecourt and the Downie Museum Basilica Forecourt restoration project was completed on time and on budget in 2021.
During the restoration project, the 100-year-old Downie Museum adobe was seismically strengthened to comply with state law for unreinforced masonry structures. All new mechanical, electrical, fire safety and plumbing infrastructure was added, and the roofline was leveled. This museum previously housed the main visitor restrooms, which had limited functionality, and were removed. This restored the structure's original floor plan, and a new, stand-alone restroom facility was constructed in the Central Courtyard to replace them. The old interior doorways were located and opened up to provide access to the newly expanded exhibit space. The iconic fireplace, designed by renowned sculptor Jo Mora, was refurbished to highlight the century-old sandstones used in Carmel at the time.
To meet the Americans with Disability Act requirements, two family style ADA restrooms were created by repurposing a storage area on the west side of the museum. In addition, ADA access was incorporated into and throughout the museum by leveling the floor. Today the Downie Museum is safe, structurally secure, and accessible for all visitors to enjoy.
