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Seismic Damage, Mission San Miguel Arcangel, California
Photo ID# RW3178
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Mission San Miguel Arcangel was founded in 1797 as the 16th California Mission. The chapel is renowned for it's Munras Murals and is cited as being the best example of original Mission-era artwork in the chain. In 2003, a large earthquake centered at nearby Paso Robles damaged the chapel and the mission has been closed since. The pigments have started separating from the murals and the structures are in imminent danger of collapsing.
It is estimated that repairs will cost between $15 to 20 million. As of 2007, only $1.2 million has been raised so far. In 2006, Mission San Miguel was declared a National Historic Site and is on the top ten list for most endangered historical sites in America.