Stroll through exquisite gardens and see handcrafted art at California's largest mission.

Founded in 1798 and known as the “King of the Missions,” Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is the largest of California’s 21 missions. The illustrious title was bestowed upon this state treasure because of its extensive gardens and architectural beauty. With its well-preserved grounds, it is easy to visualize the everyday life of the Franciscan Friars and Native Americans who inhabited the Mission more than two centuries ago. Not to be missed are the hand-carved wooden doors, bright and colorful hand-painted walls and murals, the original baptismal font--made out of hand-hammered copper by Native Americans--and a mixture of Classical and Baroque reredos (illustrated wall screens). The Mission offers guided and self-guided tours, and includes a museum, gift shop, retreat center, and year-round calendar of special events.

Explore MoPA’s treasures from the permanent collection exhibition In Light. Our rich holdings of photographic works tell vivid stories of photography’s master practitioners and technological innovations, while demonstrating photography’s ability to reveal the unseen and the unseeable. This special selection of photographs includes iconic names, such as Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange, and introduces viewers to the compelling works by other leaders of the medium.