Carmel Mission

The Carmel Mission Foundation has announced it is making a $2,000,000 grant to restore the Carmel Mission’s Quadrangle Courtyard. This large Courtyard in the center of the Mission is the venue for many important parish and community events. Work has now begun and plans are to have it completed by early August.
The old concrete surface, cracked with many trip hazards, will be removed. New subterranean utility infrastructure will be installed to support future Mission restoration work. The Quadrangle will then be resurfaced with a stronger, safer, and similar looking hardscape designed to last for the next 75-100 years. The work is being performed by the same Preservation Team and general contractor, Blach Construction, which performed the successful and award-winning Basilica restoration.
The Quadrangle restoration marks the beginning of Phase II of the Mission’s restoration, which is a comprehensive, multi-year project to seismically strengthen and restore the Mission’s 11 remaining historic structures and courtyards, including five museums, California’s first library, and the Orchard House, California’s oldest adobe residence. The total estimated cost for Phase II is $20 million. The comprehensive planning for this Phase has been underway for the past two years, funded by the Foundation.
The Foundation is now in the process of raising the $12 million needed for the next planned segment of Phase II. It will include the Harry Downie Museum, Mora Chapel Museum, Convento Museum, Museum Store, Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and Basilica Forecourt.
“Following years of deferred maintenance, this latest $2,000,000 grant is another major step in the exciting rebirth of the Mission in the 21st century,” said Foundation President and CEO, Vic Grabrian. “Because of the overwhelming generosity of our donors, the Foundation has been able to make $7,500,000 in preservation grants to the Mission to date. We are counting on those who care about preserving this historic treasure for future generations to help us to complete this rewarding work.”

About the Carmel Mission Foundation
The Carmel Mission Foundation was founded in 2008 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity corporation. The Foundation is totally independent from any religious organization and contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Its sole purpose is to fund the restoration and preservation of the historic Carmel Mission structures, art, and artifacts. The importance of the California missions, and Carmel Mission (San Carlos Borroméo del Río Carmelo) in particular, to the history and development of California cannot be overstated. Founded in 1771, the Carmel Mission served as the Headquarters for the entire California mission system and is the repository of generations of culture, tradition, and history.
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