Mission Dolores
Also known as: Mission San Francisco de Asis
Why it's listed
Mission Dolores, formally Mission San Francisco de Asis, is an adobe church at 320 Dolores Street in San Francisco. Franciscan Fathers and Mission Indians built it between 1782 and 1791, and it has served as a church ever since. Its sun-dried adobe walls are four feet thick, the roof beams are redwood, the tiles were made by Mission Indians, and the structure is held together with wooden pegs and rawhide rather than nails. A 1920 renovation under Willis Polk added steel trusses to strengthen the roof. The building is described as the oldest essentially unaltered structure in the city. It stands on or near the site of the mission founded in 1776 by Father Francisco Palou under Father Junipero Serra. Its name comes from a nearby lagoon called Laguna de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores. Buried on the grounds are Don Jose Joaquin Moraga, William Richardson, William Leidesdorff, Luis Antonio Arguello and Francisco de Haro.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest essentially unaltered building in San Francisco and has been in continuous use as a church since construction. It stands on or near the site of the mission founded in 1776 and holds the burials of several early California figures. It is also an excellent example of the Spanish Mission style.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000251, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 320 Dolores St., San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000251 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1782-1791 |
| Architect / builder | Built by the Franciscan Fathers and Mission Indians under their direction; 1920 renovation directed by Willis Polk |
| Architectural style | Spanish Mission style |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition excellent and unaltered; occupied and in use as a church and museum. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 37.76392, -122.42695 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000251.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1000321
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.