Founded: December 14, 1817 by Father Vicente de Sarria
Named for: St. Raphael the Archangel, patron of good health. This site was originally dedicated as an asistencia (sub-mission) of Mission Dolores. San Rafael was to serve as a convalescent hospital for the many sick neophytes (Christianized Native Americans) there. Concerned that the high death rate of the Mission Dolores neophytes was partly due to the damp climate, the padres decided to send the sick to a better location in order to recover.
6 x 6 unframed.